Minister of Culture Sabeeda Thaised has presided over a press conference marking the official handover of the “Prakhon Chai bronze sculptures,” from the United States to Thailand.

The press conference took place on 6 January 2026 at the National Museum Bangkok, with the participation of the Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, the Director-General of the Department of Cultural Promotion, and representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and other relevant agencies.

The four bronze sculptures were initially discovered in Prakhon Chai District, Buri Ram Province, before subsequently being displayed at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles have been supporting the coordination between the Fine Arts Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and have worked closely with the relevant agencies to secure the return of these antiquities. As such, coordination with the U.S. side to seek the repatriation of the antiquities has been ongoing since 2018.

In April 2025, the Museum completed the de-accessioning of these four sculptures and coordinated with the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles to proceed with their return to Thailand. On 8 December 2025, the Ambassador of Thailand to the United States and the Consul-General of Thailand in Los Angeles attended the handover ceremony of the four antiquities in San Francisco. Subsequently, the Royal Thai Consulate-General made necessary arrangements for the eventual return of the artefacts to Thailand.

This handover of the antiquities is of great significance, as they are archaeological evidence reflecting the prosperity of ancient communities in northeastern Thailand. It demonstrates the Royal Thai Government’s commitment to tracing and repatriating Thailand’s cultural heritage from overseas, as well as the close cooperation among the relevant agencies in continuing efforts to recover other antiquities and return them to Thailand.

Thailand expressed its appreciation to the U.S. side, in particular HSI and the Asian Art Museum, for their cooperation in this matter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Culture and relevant agencies to continue pursuing the repatriation of Thai antiquities from overseas back to Thailand.