The Khmer bronze 'Golden Boy' sculpture was unveiled in Thailand yesterday after being relinquished by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York.

The 11th-century gilded statue of the Buddhist deity Shiva was made by the great craftsman of the Khmer Empire, which stretched across Southeast Asia, before its fall, into what is now modern-day Cambodia.

It was unearthed in the 1970s in Buriram province, which was close to the centre of Angkor in the Khmer heartlands before part of the region was absorbed into the northeast of Thailand.

The 150cm tall sculpture was reportedly sold on the black market in Bangkok and smuggled out of the country before being acquired by the MET.

However, the museum sent the Golden Boy and a second bronze, The Kneeling Female, to Thailand, despite the original items being rooted in the Khmer people in what is now Cambodia.

Historian Andy Brouwer lamented the MET's decision to return the sculpture to send the item to Thai authorities.

He said: 'The Golden Boy sculpture was very likely illegally smuggled out of Bangkok, so the MET simply sent it back.

'The Met, I am told, made the decision themselves and without considering any evidence presented by Thailand or Cambodia. It was their decision alone [to send the item to Thailand].

'In today's ceremony, the question of provenance was ignored and skipped over, but the Thais confirmed it was the MET who generated the return.'

Thai Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol said the sculpture was 'evidence of Thailand's prosperity', despite the early origins of the country not emerging until the 13th century.

The Khmer Empire is considered to have been one of the world's greatest civilisations. Its territory covered Cambodia and the majority of what is now modern-day Thailand Laos and Vietnam.

Khmer religion, art, fashion, food and sport are still prevalent in the culture of countries in Southeast Asia.