RIYADH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has recognized the Portuguese ambassador for returning a Saudi artifact from the Neolithic era to the commission.
Abdul Rahman Al-Jassas, the executive director of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cultural Heritage Initiative, delivered a certificate of appreciation from SCTH President Prince Sultan bin Salman to the Portuguese ambassador.
Ambassador Manuel Carvalho told Arab News on Friday: “I feel honored to have that certificate of appreciation.”
Asked about where he had found the object, a finely crafted arrowhead made of stone, and what prompted him to return it, the envoy said: “It was a coincidence. I was traveling to the west of Riyadh a while ago when I found the piece.”
The outgoing Portuguese ambassador told Arab News: “Since I have completed my tenure and will be leaving soon, I returned it to the original owner.
“I found something that belongs to the Kingdom and I gave it to the right body to preserve it,” he said.
“I do not think this is a very rich contribution, it is just a small gesture to support the national campaign to help preserve and contribute to the local heritage,” he added.
“The Kingdom is very rich in heritage and culture, and Saudi history deserves to be made known to the outside world. The SCTH runs a campaign fostering awareness, encouraging people to return heritage artifacts and has been accustomed to honoring citizens and foreigners who are returning archaeological objects to the commission.”
The SCTH has devoted an exhibition to recovered antiquities and created a register of people who give back relics. It honored a number of them during the opening ceremony of the recent first Saudi Archaeology Convention in Riyadh.