Several ancient archeological artifacts from ancient Arabian civilizations have been restored to the Kingdom. The relics were taken from the country by explorers and expatriates who used to work in the Kingdom. The Commission for Tourism and Antiquities is showcasing them in an exhibition at the National Museum in Riyadh. Among the Americans who possessed the national archeological relics was Alice Nicole who worked in Aramco with her husband Radge Nicole from 1956 to 1970. The couple used to climb mountains and desert areas for spotting old geological sites. She said: “One day while out walking at the foot of Mount Jabal Al-Shimal we found distinctive rocks from over a million years ago, spear heads, pieces of pottery and some broken bracelets. “We also obtained some artifacts in Madaen Saleh and Tayma and shipped them in nine boxes to the United States.” However, Nicole said she welcomed the Kingdom's quest to collect the antiquities from abroad. “I contacted the embassy to return the artifacts in my possession because I always felt these artifacts belong to the Saudi people and not to me.” Another American Beverly Schwart and her husband spent 26 years working for Saudi Aramco. They used to explore old sites and deserts and found various archeological treasures including old stones and stone spearheads. She said: “I showcased these in the US but felt very unhappy until I returned them because I was very much aware of the fact that they belong to other people who will love and protect them more than me.” Beverly revealed one of the most fascinating of these artifacts is an unbroken green bottle that her child found shining in the sand. This bottle stretched back to the Phoenician era. All of these people who returned the artifacts to the Kingdom will be honored at the sidelines of the exhibition for Restored Antiquities.
