Fake Artifacts Fool Experts: 33 Ancient Tablets Exposed as Modern Fakes

DAMASCUS, Dec 12 – Syria’s Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums has revealed that 33 ancient cuneiform tablets are sophisticated forgeries. Experts previously believed the artifacts were 4,000 years old. Specialists conducted detailed scientific tests on the clay tablets. The examinations proved the items are counterfeit. Officials noted the forgeries were high-quality imitations. Cuneiform is an ancient writing system. It used wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. The fakes were meant to appear from the second millennium BC. The Directorate announced the findings in a Friday press statement. The discovery highlights the ongoing challenge of authenticating historical artifacts in the art market.