The Australian Government has returned a culturally significant ammonite fossil to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria today.

19 September 2018

A representative from our Department handed over the culturally significant fossil to the Chargée d’Affaires a.i of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Embassy in Canberra.

The fossil was seized at the request of the Algerian Government and was returned under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986. 

The Australian Government continues to work closely with other governments and UNESCO to protect movable cultural heritage items.

Australia is a signatory of the UNESCO Convention on the means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transport of Ownership of Cultural Property 1970.

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