A restitution ceremony of nearly 25,000 archaeological objects seized in 2005 and 2006 in France, was held in late February in Morocco, in the presence of Minister of Culture Othman El Ferdaous and French Ambassador in Rabat, Hélène Le Gal.

This initiative resulting from "a close and constant bilateral cooperation between Moroccan and French authorities," is "of particular importance in terms of information and public awareness-raising on this illegal form of destruction of heritage."

"It illustrates the importance of customs cooperation" between France and Morocco, the French Customs wrote on their website.

This treasure which includes paleontological and archaeological fossils, trilobites, teeth, skulls and jaws of animals, arrowheads, carved tools and rock carvings illegally removed from Moroccan territory, comes from pre-Saharan and Anti-Atlas sites and date back to - 500,000 million years and the Paleolithic and Neolithic period (6,130,000 years /- 6,000 years), according to the same source.

Seized in 2005 and 2006 by the brigades of Perpignan and Arles, this archaeological treasure was displayed during a first restitution ceremony organized last October in Marseilles.

"These are almost 3 tonnes of archaeological objects that finally reach the Kingdom of Morocco," the French Customs said.

The recovery of these archaeological objects is part of the action plan of Morocco's Ministry of Culture aimed at protecting heritage and fighting against illicit trafficking of cultural property, particularly movable heritage.

It also comes in line with the international commitments of Morocco and France relating to the implementation of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.