This photo provided by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in New York shows seven stolen ancient artifacts that were recovered by authorities being displayed on a table at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Thursday, May 25, 2017. The ancient statues and pottery vessels are headed back to their homeland in Italy after authorities said they tracked down the stolen items in New York City. (Laura J. Badger/Manhattan District Attorney's Office via AP)

NEW YORK — Seven ancient statues and pottery vessels are headed back to their homeland in Italy after authorities said they tracked down the stolen items in New York City.

Dating back as far as the eighth century B.C., the artifacts were looted by Italian tomb raiders in the 1990s, then were smuggled out of the country and eventually turned up at two New York art galleries, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said Thursday while returning the artifacts to Italian officials.

“A big ‘grazie,’ ” said Italian Consul General Francesco Genuardi, thanking the city. “These pieces of art are a powerful display of the importance we attach, together, to the preservation of art heritage.” The items, each from the third century B.C. or earlier, are valued at over $90,000 in all. But “no price tag can be placed on cultural heritage,” said Chief Assistant District Attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo.