VOA慢速英语2021--阿富汗文物回国

Historic¹ cultural artifacts are returning to Afghanistan.

U.S. officials seized 33 Afghan pieces worth $1.8 million from a New York art collector. Officials say the man stole artifacts from countries all over the world.

Roya Rahmani is Afghanistan's ambassador² to the U.S. She says the recovery of the material is extremely important to the country's culture.

"Each one of these pieces are priceless depictions of our history," she said.

The Manhattan District Attorney³ along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recovered the artifacts as a part of an investigation⁴ into the illegal sale of antiquities⁵. Rahmani formally took back the pieces from the U.S. on April 12.

The items include masks and sculptures, some from the second and third centuries. They were on display for a short period of time at the Afghan embassy⁶ in Washington, D.C. They will be placed in the Afghanistan National Museum in Kabul.

The National Museum of Kabul is the place where members of the Taliban destroyed artifacts in 2001. The group believes human images are offensive⁷.

The Taliban is now out of power, but it controls much of the country outside of Kabul. Peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government have slowed down, and U.S. and NATO troops are expected to leave the country after 20 years of war.

Rahmani says it's a dangerous time for the country.

"However, what I know is that our security forces are determined⁸ to defend our people. The government is committed to do its part for peace," she said.

Before 9/11, the Taliban had become infamous⁹ for its strict form of Islamic law. Under the Taliban, most art and culture was banned, and women were not allowed in public. In 2001, the Taliban destroyed sixth century statues of the Buddha¹⁰ built into the side of a cliff in Bamiyan province.

Rahmani says the items are returning to an Afghan government that respects their culture and history. She says the Taliban would never destroy the precious artifacts again.

"Our security forces and our government would not let that happen," she said.

Like the statues, some of the recovered antiquities are of the Buddha. There's also a statue of Shiva and a Greek mask.

Fredrik Hiebert is an archaeologist who is an expert on Afghanistan. He says the artifacts show the many cultural influences on the country, which was once a worldwide center for trade.

"Afghanistan is one of the richest countries in archaeology¹¹ and history in the world," he said. "For 6,000 years there's been civilization based in Afghanistan."

That makes Afghanistan a good target for those who want to steal.

Homeland Security Investigations¹² (HSI) is a government agency that deals with cases of smuggling¹³ across international borders. In 2007, it received information about stolen artifacts brought to the New York City area from India.

Eventually, New York art gallery owner, Subhash Kapoor, and seven others were brought up on smuggling charges. The government took back more than 2,600 artifacts worth more than $140 million.

For now, the U.S. government is working to return the stolen material, much of it found around New York City.

HSI has already returned items to Nepal and Sri Lanka and soon will turn over artifacts to Thailand.

Stephen Lee is in charge of HSI's cultural property, arts and antiquities unit. The 33 items being sent to Afghanistan are the first to return as part of the investigation.

"They belong to the people of Afghanistan," Lee said. "That's their cultural history."

Words in This Story

artifact –n. a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made by people in the past

priceless -adj. extremely valuable or important

depict–v. to show (someone or something) in a picture, painting, photograph, etc.

antiquity-n. objects from ancient times

mask–n. a covering for your face or for part of your face

sculpture-n. a piece of art that is made by carving¹⁴ or molding clay, stone, metal, etc.

vow-n. a serious promise to do something or to behave in a certain way

loot-n. something that is stolen or taken by force

civilization-n. the condition that exists when people have developed effective ways of organizing a society and care about art, science, etc.

smuggle-v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly

1 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

2 ambassador   

n.大使，特使，（派驻国际组织的）代表

参考例句：

• He took up office as an ambassador for ten years continuously.他连任十年大使。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

3 attorney   

n.（业务或法律事务上的）代理人，辩护律师

参考例句：

• He acted as attorney for me.他充当我的律师。
• The attorney for the union accused the Mayor of playing politics.工会的律师谴责市长在这次罢工中耍阴谋。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

6 embassy   

n.大使馆，大使及其随员

参考例句：

• Large crowd demonstrated outside the British Embassy.很多群众在英国大使馆外面示威。
• He's a U.S. diplomat assigned to the embassy in London.他是美国驻伦敦大使馆的一名外交官。

7 offensive   

adj.令人不快的，侮辱的，攻击用的；n.进攻

参考例句：

• His mode of doing business is offensive to me.他干事情的方式叫我很不喜欢。
• If all else fails,I will take the offensive.如果其他方法不行，我将采取攻势。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 infamous   

adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的

参考例句：

• He was infamous for his anti-feminist attitudes.他因反对女性主义而声名狼藉。
• I was shocked by her infamous behaviour.她的无耻行径令我震惊。

10 Buddha   

n.佛；佛像；佛陀

参考例句：

• Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
• He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。

11 archaeology   

n.考古学

参考例句：

• She teaches archaeology at the university.她在大学里教考古学。
• He displayed interest in archaeology.他对考古学有兴趣。

12 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

13 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

14 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。