The Australian government on Monday handed back to China
confiscated dinosaur eggs and other fossils believed to be millions
of years old.
At a ceremony held in Canberra, Minister for Justice and Customs
Christopher Ellison gave a list of 32 fossils seized by Australian
Customs for the past year to Chinese Ambassador to Australia Fu
Ying. The fossils include 25 dinosaur eggs, three dinosaur egg
pieces, three fish slabs and one sinohydrosaur fossil.
Among the fossils displayed at the ceremony included a
130-million-year-old slab of fossil fish, a 130-million-year-old
marine reptile and five 65-million-year-old dinosaur eggs.
The fossils, illegally exported from China and imported into
Australia, had been seized at the request of China. Some, believed
to be from Henan
Province, originated in the Cretaceous Period, 100 million
years ago.
Ellison told reporters, "The Australian government has great
respect for the significance of these items in Chinese history and
culture, and we are one of the first countries to take direct
action to help China deter the illegal international trade in
fossils and artifacts."
He did not give a value of the fossils but estimated a dinosaur
egg could be priced at A$15,000 dollars (US$10,500).
He said some of the fossils had been bought over the Internet by
Australian residents who were unaware that they were purchasing
illegal exports. Others were offered for sale in stores. Ellison
advised Australian citizens who have interest in collecting fossils
to be aware that such items could be illegal.
The investigation is continuing and no one has been formally
charged in connection with the seizures.
Ellison said his government will continue to assist the Chinese
government in retrieving and protecting Chinese heritage. The
protection of cultural heritage is "a very serious matter which
concerns all the countries," he stated.
The 32 fossils handed over Monday seem to be the tip of a very
large iceberg. A haul of 20 tons of Chinese fossils was seized in
Perth last week.
"Last week's seizure of fossils in western Australia is yet
another example of the Australian government working to assist the
Chinese government in their endeavors to halt the illegal trade in
Chinese fossils," said Ellison.
Hailing the two countries' cooperation in quelling the smuggling
of Chinese historical relics, Fu thanked the Australian government
for helping to retrieve the fossils. She said cooperation in
checking the illegal trade of fossils is an important part of the
nations' healthy cultural exchange.
Fu suggested that the two countries should expand their
cooperation to identify the smuggling routes and the organized
criminal gangs involved.
(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2004)