Cambodia tracking down thousands of priceless looted antiquities | 60 Minutes

Recent questions

• What is the significance of Cambodia's cultural treasures?

  Cambodia's cultural treasures, including sacred stone, bronze, and gold artifacts, hold immense historical and religious value for the country. These artifacts were looted from religious sites across Cambodia, particularly the Angkor Wat temple complex, a thousand-year-old site honoring Hindu god Vishnu. The theft of these treasures not only represents a loss of cultural heritage but also symbolizes the country's struggle to reclaim its history amidst colonization, genocide, civil war, and political turmoil.

• Who played a significant role in the global business of looting Cambodia's artifacts?

  Douglas Latchford, a British man, played a significant role in the global business of looting Cambodia's artifacts. He was involved in selling stolen artifacts to private collectors and prestigious museums worldwide. Latchford's preferences guided the looters to target specific temples and statues, leading to severe damage to Cambodia's cultural treasures.

• How has Cambodia's government been addressing the issue of stolen artifacts?

  Cambodia's government has been actively tracking down stolen treasures over the past decade to reclaim their history and heritage. Efforts led by individuals like Brad Gordon, an American lawyer working for the Cambodian government, have been instrumental in tracking down stolen artifacts with the help of investigators, archaeologists, and art scholars. The government, under the leadership of Fang Sak, Cambodia's Minister of Culture, emphasizes the sacred significance of the looted statues and gods, working towards their recovery.

• What role did former looters play in the efforts to recover stolen artifacts?

  Former looters, like D Duck, provided crucial information to Brad Gordon's team, detailing the methods and tools used in looting Cambodia's cultural treasures. These tools included shovels, chisels, metal detectors, and dynamite. By sharing their knowledge, former looters have assisted in the ongoing fight to reclaim Cambodia's stolen artifacts and shed light on the dark history of looting.

• How did the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York become involved in the controversy surrounding looted Cambodian artifacts?

  The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York became involved in the controversy surrounding looted Cambodian artifacts when federal prosecutors traced looted artifacts to the museum. This prompted a review of the provenance of the museum's collections. The Met returned two statues donated by Douglas Latchford, raising questions about other items he had donated. Subsequently, the museum announced a research team to examine the provenance of all its collections after a decade of controversy surrounding the issue.