Bactrian Gold Makes International Debut in France

Paris 's Guimet Museum of Asian art has become the first international museum to exhibit ancient Afghanistan’s fabled Bactrian gold. These ancient treasures resurfaced three years ago, after longstanding fears that they had been lost to the world. More than 220 pieces from the Afghan National Museum will go on display in an exhibit including numerous pieces from the 2,000-year-old Bactrian collection and numerous masterpieces of gold and ivory that have never been seen in public. France’s strong archeological relationship with Afghanistan helped secure its nomination to be the first country to show the famous artifacts. -- "This exhibit is important to show the world that Afghanistan is not only war and killing and terrorism," said Pierre Cambon, chief curator at the Guimet. -- The exhibition will run until April 30, and may potentially travel to the United States soon thereafter.