Getty Museum Admits 350 More Treasures May Be Looted

A scandal surrounding the looting of ancient artefacts deepened yesterday when it emerged that 350 items worth $100m (£54m) held by one of America's leading museums are of dubious provenance. The items, identified by an internal review by the Getty Trust in Los Angeles, are in addition to 52 artefacts valued at more than $48m that the Italian government is demanding be returned. The Italian authorities claim those items were illegally excavated and exported.

The newly identified objects include many of the most prestigious and striking exhibits at the trust's recently reopened Getty Villa, the only museum in the US dedicated to ancient art. Thirty-five of the museum's catalogue of 104 "masterpieces" feature on the new list of disputed artefacts. They include a sculpture of two griffins, a marble and limestone sculpture of the Greek goddess Aphrodite and a bronze known as Victorious Youth, which is displayed in its own temperature-controlled room.

The discovery comes as the Italian authorities step up attempts to recover what they say are looted artefacts. New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art signed an agreement with Italy in February to return disputed objects in return for long-term loans of treasures.

The Getty's former senior curator of antiquities, Marion True, is currently on trial in Rome on charges that she conspired with dealers to purchase looted art for the museum. She resigned her post last autumn, shortly before the Getty Villa reopened. Her defence is being funded by the Getty. Ms True denies knowingly buying looted artworks.

The talks between the museum and the Italian authorities are due to resume in Rome today. But Maurizio Fiorilli, the lead negotiator for the Italian ministry of culture, told the Los Angeles Times that the Getty's failure to disclose information about the 350 items raised questions about its sincerity. Italy's new culture minister, Francesco Rutelli, told Il Messaggero newspaper that restitution remained a priority. "This explains to the trustees and officials that the period of great plunder is over," he said.