Mexico Repatriates 399 Cultural Artifacts

Mexico Repatriates 399 Cultural Artifacts

• The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture repatriated 399 cultural pieces to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). The artifacts were recovered by Mexico's embassy in France and consulates in Chicago, Dallas, Montreal, New York, and Vancouver
• This was made possible as a result of the collaborative efforts between federal authorities and Mexico's diplomatic representations abroad.

The Legal Advisor's Office of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Culture returned 399 cultural artifacts to the National Institute of Anthropology and Culture. The pieces were recovered by Mexico's embassy in France and consulates in Chicago, Dallas, Montreal, New York, and Vancouver.

Expert evaluations by INAH specialists confirm that the pieces come from various cultures and prehistoric periods, including western Mexico, the Gulf Coast, Central Highlands, Oaxaca region, and Maya area.

Notable recoveries include a Maya clay pot from 500-900 AD (Chicago); a Zapotec seal depicting a fantastical being from 200-900 AD (Dallas); an anthropomorphic figure in Ixtlán del Río style from 100-700 AD (France); a double-chamber Teotihuacan-style candleholder from 200-750 AD (Montreal); a turtle figure from the Mesoamerican Postclassic period (New York); and 12 additional archaeological pieces from various periods and regions of Mexico (Vancouver).

The restitution of these cultural objects reflects the ongoing collaborative work of federal agencies and Mexico's diplomatic representations abroad. Their dedicated efforts to reclaim our cultural heritage have been a key priority of Mexican foreign policy, achieved by working with local authorities, conducting seizures, stopping auctions, and negotiating with academic institutions and museums.

The Mexican government reaffirms its commitment to indigenous communities, its dedication to preserving Mexico's cultural heritage, and its determination to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property.