Gilgamesh tablet: US authorities take ownership of artefact

A federal court in the US has verified that a rare ancient artefact, known as the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet, was legally seized by authorities.

The 3,500-year-old tablet, from what is now Iraq, bears text from the Epic of Gilgamesh – one of the world’s oldest works of literature.

Officials say it was illegally imported before being purchased by the Christian-owned brand Hobby Lobby.