Penn Museum To Loan Ancient Jewelry To Turkey
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia archaeology museum will indefinitely loan ancient jewelry known as "Troy gold" to Turkey in exchange for a future exhibit of artifacts from King Midas' tomb.
The deal is part of what Penn Museum officials call a landmark agreement with Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The arrangement announced Tuesday also includes continuing Turkish support for Penn excavations at Gordion, in central Turkey.
The Penn Museum acquired the early Bronze Age jewelry in 1966. But it wasn't until 2009 that scholars identified the items as likely being from the historic city of Troy.
Discussions for their return began with Turkish officials last year. The state-run Anatolia news agency says a new archaeology museum is being built in Troy.
The Midas exhibit is slated for Philadelphia in 2016.
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