Antalya: The head of a statue of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus and 48 terracotta architectural plaques, which were smuggled from Trkiye, have been returned from Denmark's Glyptotek Museum, as announced by The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Friday. According to Anadolu Agency, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy spoke at a handover ceremony held at the Antalya Archaeology Museum, stating that the artifacts originated from the ancient city of Boubon in Burdur, a southwestern city in Trkiye, as well as from Duver village. Ersoy highlighted that Boubon was known for its Roman-era sculptures but suffered significant losses due to illegal excavations in the 1960s, with many artifacts smuggled out of the country using falsified documents. Trkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in collaboration with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in the US, has facilitated the return of several Boubon-origin artifacts in recent years, including statues of Lucius Verus, Septimius Severus, a Yo ung Emperor, and a Draped Woman. The head of the Septimius Severus statue, which was smuggled in the 1960s, was returned after research confirmed its origins. Ersoy credited Turkish archaeologist Jale Inan for identifying the artifact, leading the Glyptotek Museum to return it on "ethical grounds." He mentioned that many are eager to see the head and body reunited, and a conservation process has begun to ensure its proper restoration, noting that ancient statues were often restored with replacement heads. The 48 terracotta plaques, dating back to the 6th century B.C., are considered significant for understanding the culture of ancient Pisidia, a region of ancient Asia Minor. Ersoy further stated that Trkiye repatriated 14 major artifacts in 2025 and 1,149 historical pieces in 2024. Since 2018, a total of 8,967 artifacts have been recovered, including the Gypsy Girl mosaics, a Roman-era stele from Zeugma, a Kilia-type idol, and a Kybele votive statue. In total, 13,282 artifacts have been repatriated since 2 002, with efforts being strengthened to prevent smuggling by ensuring artifacts are properly registered in museum inventories. Danish Ambassador to Ankara Ole Toft welcomed the return, affirming that the Glyptotek Museum took action after verifying the artifacts' Turkish origins.