How 297 Returned Antiquities Were Delivered to India: ASI Case Study
Author : Hybrid Shifting | Published On : 17 Oct 2026
After the United States returned 297 cultural artefacts to India in September 2024, Hybrid Shifting delivered the priceless antiquities retrieved from the USA to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) between 26 and 30 December 2024. The project ran from origin assessment and custom crating through customs clearance, air freight, installation and final handover.
Moving a cultural artefact is nothing like moving cargo. Some of these objects are thousands of years old, and they cannot be replaced if damaged. This case study shows how a project of this kind is planned and delivered end to end.
What Was the 2024 Return of Antiquities from the US to India?
In September 2024, the United States returned 297 cultural artefacts to India. The collection included terracotta works, sculptures and vases made from stone, copper and other materials. The pieces date from approximately 2000 BCE to 1900 CE, a span of nearly four thousand years.
Once artefacts like these are recovered, they still have to travel safely to the institution responsible for them. That is where high-value asset logistics comes in.
Who Delivered the Antiquities to the Archaeological Survey of India?
Hybrid Shifting is India’s Corporate Services Solutions company, and its High-Value Asset Logistics service handles art, antiques, designer furniture, chandeliers and precious artefacts.
An ASI certificate dated 30 December 2024 records Hybrid Shifting Solution India Private Limited (Pikkol) as the service provider for the delivery of the priceless antiquities retrieved from the USA, from 26 to 30 December 2024. The certificate describes the overall services as commendable. It was issued by the ASI’s Central Antiquity Collection Section in New Delhi.
What Was the Scope of the Project?
The project was managed as one integrated shipment lifecycle, from origin planning through destination delivery. It covered 15 stages:
