FBI Returns Looted Artifacts to Japan from Battle of Okinawa, Excavations Uncover Ancient Artifacts in Malaysia

The FBI has returned 22 artifacts to Japan that were looted after the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. In Malaysia, archaeologists have unearthed over 70,000 artifacts, including skeletal remains dating back 16,000 years, at a site soon to be submerged by a hydroelectric project.

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**Boston, Massachusetts** - The FBI's Boston Division has announced the return of 22 artifacts to Japan that were stolen after the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The artifacts include swords, pottery, and documents that were taken from Japanese cultural institutions and families during the war. The FBI worked with the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Okinawa Prefectural Government to identify and recover the artifacts.

FBI Returns Looted Artifacts to Japan from Battle of Okinawa, Excavations Uncover Ancient Artifacts in Malaysia

The Battle of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, and hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians and soldiers were killed. In the aftermath of the battle, many Japanese artifacts were looted by American soldiers. Some of these artifacts were later sold to collectors and museums around the world.

The FBI has been working to recover looted artifacts from Japan for many years. In 2011, the FBI returned 12 artifacts to Japan that were looted from the Tokyo National Museum. The FBI also worked with the Japanese Embassy to recover 10 artifacts that were looted from the Okinawa Prefectural Museum in 1945.

FBI Returns Looted Artifacts to Japan from Battle of Okinawa, Excavations Uncover Ancient Artifacts in Malaysia

The return of these 22 artifacts is a significant step in the FBI's efforts to recover looted artifacts from Japan. The artifacts will be returned to the Okinawa Prefectural Museum, where they will be displayed for the benefit of the Japanese people.

**Kelantan, Malaysia** - Archaeologists in Malaysia have spent over a year investigating an area that will soon be underwater, and they have unearthed more than 70,000 artifacts, including skeletal remains in prehistoric burials that are believed to date back 16,000 years.

FBI Returns Looted Artifacts to Japan from Battle of Okinawa, Excavations Uncover Ancient Artifacts in Malaysia

The archaeological team, led by the National University of Malaysia, has been working at the site of the Nenggiri Hydroelectric Power Plant, which is set to be completed in mid-2027. The area being investigated includes caves in the Nenggiri Valley, about 135 miles from Kuala Lumpur.

The artifacts found at the site include stone tools, pottery, and stone ornaments. The archaeologists have also found the skeletal remains of at least 16 individuals in 13 limestone caves at four sites.

FBI Returns Looted Artifacts to Japan from Battle of Okinawa, Excavations Uncover Ancient Artifacts in Malaysia

Fifteen of the 16 skeletons were in a "fully flexed" position, which signals a pre-Neolithic burial, according to the archaeologists. The outlier was in an extended position, and dating of the sedimentary layers indicates that this skeleton is from the Neolithic period, about 6,000 years ago.

The archaeologists believe that the skeletons are the remains of people who lived in the area during the prehistoric period. The artifacts found at the site provide insights into the lives of these people, their culture, and their burials practices.

The excavation of the Nenggiri Valley is a valuable archaeological project that is providing new information about the prehistory of Malaysia. The artifacts and skeletal remains found at the site will be studied by archaeologists and historians for many years to come.