The Iraqi National Museum found 638 artifacts that had been missing for two years. Once returned by the U.S. government, the relics were turned over to the office of the prime minster in Iraq, which is where they were found, according to an announcement over the weekend. They were in a closet in the prime minister's office.

Following the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003, approximately 15,000 relics fell victim to looting.

According to Qahtan al-Jibouri, the minister of tourism and antiquities for Iraq, "We found these artifacts in one of the storerooms of the prime minister's office along with some kitchen appliances."

[photo by Brian Sayler via Flickr]

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Iraq, Middle East