More than 22,000 ancient cultural treasures from Afghanistan, feared lost or destroyed after decades of war and Taliban rule, have been taken out of dusty crates and safes in Kabul and inventoried for safekeeping, said a US archeologist today.
The objects, including 2,500 years' worth of gold and silver coins and ancient sculptures, represent a "Silk Road" of goods once traded from China, India, Egypt, Greece, Rome and ancient Afghanistan.
"By the end of the Taliban's reign, most of us thought there was nothing left, just destruction and despair," said National Geographic fellow and archeologist Mr Fred Hiebert, who led an inventory project of the items.
Many of the treasures were once on display in the Kabul Museum, which was shelled several times and lost its roof and door. Inventory cards were lost by fire and neglect, making it difficult to track down any of the items.
"This project has been an enormous boost for Afghanistan - finding the treasures intact and then working with the outstanding team to inventory each one of them, preserving our heritage for our children," said Afghanistan's minister of information and culture, Mr Sayed Makhdoom Raheen, in a statement released by National Geographic.
Mr Hiebert told reporters in a conference call he hoped the detailed inventory would make it easier for international law enforcement groups to track down precious items still missing.
Some looted artifacts have turned up in recent years at auction houses in Tokyo, London and New York, and Mr Hiebert hopes these can be returned to Afghanistan.