Group hoping to retrieve artifacts stolen from Moundville Archeaological Park

(WAFF) - There's new hope the passage of time and new technology will help recover millions of dollars of stolen Indian artifacts from the Moundville Archeaological Park.

"Thieves used keys to make one of the biggest antiquities heists in US history right here in the Tuscaloosa area." says Dr. Jim Knight, a Professor at the University of Alabama.

Indian artifacts were stolen from the University of Alabama's Moundville Archeological Park in 1980. Thieves unlocked doors and walked off with more than 250  pieces of prehistoric pottery and other valuable items.

"As far as I know, the biggest antiquities heist ever in the Eastern United States in terms of the quantity and value of what was stolen." said Knight.

The value of those stolen items has tripled to more than $3 million today according to Knight. No one has ever been arrested and none of the stolen items have ever been recovered, but Knight says there's renewed hope the cold case can be cracked.

A private group is now offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the return of the artifacts and there is also a tipline you can call at 205-348-2800 if you have information on the crime.

For more information on the items and the group offering the reward, click here.

A website has also been created where you can go and look at pictures of the stolen items. Between that and social media, Knight has hope the stolen items could one day be returned.

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