Jewels of Troy returned to Turkey

Historical items of jewelled treasure uncovered in the ancient city of Troy have been returned to Turkey.

Local media reported that the 24 pieces of golden jewellery, previously kept in a Pennsylvania museum, arrived in the country on September 1.

Culture and tourism minister Ertugrul Gunay spoke of his delight at the return of the jewels, including earrings, pins and pendants, to home soil.

He told local daily publication Milliyet: "Only such an event could make an excavation team leader or a culture minister as happy as I am now."

According to Gunay, Turkey has been working to reclaim the ancient jewellery for the past three years.

The items, taken in 1874 during an excavation in northwestern Turkey led by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, had been exhibited at the American Penn Museum since 1966.

The German archaeologist and his team unearthed the ancient city of Troy.

Exhibiting the objects at an Ankara archaeology museum during a press conference, Gunay said: "We have concluded a historical case."