The Ethiopian Customs Authority said Saturday it has handed over to the National Museum traditional heritage it intercepted while they were being smuggled out of the country.

The authority said in a statement that the traditional heritages the authority handed over to the National Museum are those relics prohibited to be smuggled out of the country.

The intercepted relics include 69 old-age implements for war and religious manuscripts including 34 swords and 15 shields, according to the statement.

The relics were seized last year while being smuggled out of the country through the border town of Galafi to Djibouti, the authority said.

Meanwhile, Fekadeselassie Teferra, senior expert of relics control with the museum, said the relics are estimated to be over 150 years old.

Ethiopia is one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world. The first known civilization in Ethiopia was that of the mighty Aksumite Kingdom. Having established itself in 1,000 BC, in northern Ethiopia, it eventually spread over all of northern and even central Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is rich for its historic and ecclesiastical relics. The Blue Nile sweeps through the highlands of Ethiopia covering areas filled with fascinating stories, legends and relics.

Source: Xinhua