Dakar, Senegal (AP)-This is the largest piece of Mars, located on the ground-54-pound (25-pound) meteorite, which derives over $ 5 million at a auction in New York last month, setting a world record.
But in the West African nation Niger, where the Rusty Rock was found in the Sahara Desert, employees have begun an investigation into what they call “illegal international traffic”, claiming that it may be smuggled outside the country.
Here’s what we know about meteorite and legal dispute:
How was it found
Sotebi said the rock, called NWA 16788, was blown up from the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid stroke and traveled 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) to the ground.
It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, according to the auction house. His identity has not been revealed. Neither the buyer’s identity last month.
Meteorite hunting grows in dry countries from Saharan as Niger. Although meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth, Sahara has become the main place for their discovery partly because of the favorable climate for their storage.
Hunters often look for space rocks that can be sold to collectors or scientists. The most and most precious are from Mars and the moon.
According to The Heritage Academic Journal, Rock was sold to an international dealer before finding in a private galley in Italy. A team of scientists at the University of Florence examined the rock last year to learn more about its structure and where it came from before it fell to Earth, the publication said.
The meteorite was also briefly displayed in Rome before being seen in a public place in New York last month during the auction.
Why is Niger investigating
After the sale, Niger raised questions about how the meteorite was auctioned.
The Niger government announced an investigation last month to determine the circumstances of the opening and sale of meteorite, saying it was “like” like illegal international traffic. “
Last week, President Abdurahaman Tianani stopped exports of “precious stones, semi -precious stones and meteorites across the country” in an attempt to ensure their tracking.
Sotebi said in a statement sent to the Associated Press, the meteorite was exported by Niger and transported in accordance with all relevant international procedures.
“As with everything we sell, all the necessary documentation was in order at every stage of its trip, in accordance with the best practices and requirements of the participating countries.” The statement read.
Niger authorities did not answer AP questions.
What does international law say
Although global agreements have been established to regulate the trade in cultural artifacts, there is an ambiguity whether the meteorites are covered.
Pati Gertenblit, a cultural heritage lawyer and an illegal trade expert, said that under the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Property – which Niger and the United States have ratified – meteorites can qualify as cultural property.
However, Gertenels said, however,
“If the meteorite has not been stolen and if it is properly declared on imports in the United States, then it will not seem that Niger can restore the meteorite,” she told AP.
Some countries, such as Morocco, one of the leading sources of meteorites on the international market, require restitution if the sites are found in their territory. But implementation is a challenge because of the vast desert areas and informal trading networks.