MFA returns necklace likely stolen from tomb in Turkey in 1976

BOSTON - The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is giving up a beautiful necklace because it was apparently stolen in Turkey nearly 50 years ago.

The 2,700-year-old necklace has dazzled eyes at the MFA for more than four decades. But now it will make the journey back to where it came from after researchers found out it was likely looted from a Turkish tomb in 1976.

"It's absolutely crucial, that's what I do, that's what my job is here, is to make sure we're not holding onto to something that has been stolen in the past," said Victoria Reed, the MFA Sadler Curator for Provenance.

From Turkey to Boston

The gold and carnelian necklace ended up in the MFA's collection from a London dealer in 1982.

But recently, the MFA said a scholar suggested the museum look into where the necklace came from after noticing similarities between the necklace in the MFA's collection and nearly identical beads and fittings excavated from an archeological site in western Turkey.

"Those were placed into the local archaeological museum, and it seems that the elements that made up our necklace were probably smuggled out of the country and then strung together to form this piece of jewelry," Reed told WBZ-TV.

To confirm, the MFA did its own research and figured out the necklace was probably stolen and smuggled out of Turkey. Now the country will have the precious relic back home.

Returned to "rightful owner"

"We always try to return their rightful owner whether that owner is an individual or a community or a nation," said Reed.

Representatives from Turkey's government have already picked up the necklace in a special protective case.

Last year, the MFA returned two bronze sculptures from its collection to Turkey.