KATHMANDU:  The United States returned two historic Nepali cultural artifacts, a 13th-century gilt bronze Padmapani and a 16th-century polychromed wooden Nrityadevi, during a repatriation ceremony hosted by Nepal’s Department of Archaeology on Monday.

According to the US Embassy in Nepal, the repatriation reflects years of cooperation between Nepal and the United States to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property. The embassy said the recently enacted US-Nepal Cultural Property Agreement will strengthen collaboration on investigations, trafficking prevention and the protection of Nepal’s cultural heritage.

The embassy said 127 Nepali antiquities have now been returned from the United States to Nepal, with the latest repatriation marking another step in bilateral efforts to recover and preserve the country’s cultural heritage.