Cambodia tracking down thousands of priceless looted antiquities | 60 Minutes

Thousands of priceless artifacts have been plundered from Cambodia's religious sites, prompting an international effort to bring them home. An American lawyer, Brad Gordon, is working with the Cambodian government to track down these stolen treasures, which he terms "blood antiquities."

The looting intensified during the 1970s and 1980s amid the genocide and subsequent civil war, leaving temples vulnerable. Artifacts were stolen by former Khmer Rouge soldiers and sold to unscrupulous dealers, eventually finding their way into prestigious museums and private collections worldwide.

Gordon's investigation, aided by former looters and scholars, has focused on identifying key figures in the illicit trade, such as the British antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. The recovery process involves meticulous research and international cooperation to reclaim Cambodia's cultural heritage.