Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente leads reception ceremony for 220 archaeological artifacts returned to Mexico

Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente leads reception ceremony for 220 archaeological artifacts returned to Mexico

• 220 archaeological artifacts are returned to Mexico, marking UNESCO's International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property
• These are the first artifacts returned under President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration
• The ceremony was led by Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente and Culture Secretary Claudia Curiel de Icaza

The Government of Mexico received 220 archaeological pieces, part of its cultural heritage, that were returned with assistance from authorities in Argentina, Canada, Switzerland and the U.S. These are the first artifacts returned during President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration.

Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente and Culture Secretary Claudia Curiel de Icaza, alongside National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) Director General Diego Prieto Hernández and Deputy Foreign Secretary María Teresa Mercado Pérez, led the reception ceremony at the Foreign Ministry. The event marked UNESCO's International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property.

Foreign Secretary de la Fuente delivered the items to officials from the Culture Ministry and INAH. The artifacts, recovered by Mexico's embassies and consulates abroad, are protected under the Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Monuments and Zones.

Secretary de la Fuente said that recovering these artifacts is vital for better understanding our past, appreciating our present, and building a richer, fairer, and more equitable future that advances the transformation of national public life.

Addressing the challenge of the illicit trafficking in cultural property, the Foreign Secretary called on the international community to strengthen cooperation to protect each country's historical heritage for future generations. He noted that this illegal trade is the third most profitable illicit market globally, after drug and arms trafficking.

"Therefore, we must stay vigilant and continue to make progress, because those working against our efforts are constantly intensifying their activities. We must remain mindful of what this represents," he stated.

Culture Secretary Claudia Curiel de Icaza expressed her appreciation for all the individuals and institutions that have made it possible to repatriate Mexico's cultural heritage. She recalled that during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration, with support from Dr. Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller and Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, approximately 14,000 pieces were recovered.

"They established a strong working model that we can build on in this next phase, with President Sheinbaum's commitment to continue strengthening, protecting, preserving, and promoting our cultural heritage," she said.

She highlighted Mexico's unique cultural wealth and diversity, saying that, in addition to our tangible and intangible heritage, our indigenous cultures remain vibrant. She announced plans to work with INAH, the Foreign Ministry, and other institutions to promote this heritage. "We will explore ways to organize exhibitions to present these recovered artifacts to the public, as they are part of our national identity and sovereignty," she noted.

INAH Director General Diego Prieto Hernández called the return of these 220 pieces highly promising, as it demonstrates an ongoing commitment to recover Mexico's historical, archaeological, and paleontological heritage that is abroad illegally.

He emphasized that these returns demonstrate the productive collaboration among all government and international agencies and allied nations in preserving, legally protecting, researching, and promoting our cultural heritage.

Expert analyses by INAH confirm that these pieces were created by various pre-Hispanic cultures in Mexico across different periods. The items were voluntarily returned by private individuals to Mexico's embassies in Argentina, Switzerland and the U.S., and to Mexico's consulates in Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Oxnard, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. The items will be given to INAH for their study, care, preservation, and promotion.

The return of these artifacts is part of the Mexican Government's efforts to recover and protect our cultural heritage. It represents the first initiative under President Sheinbaum's administration to secure the return of Mexico's cultural artifacts that were illegally taken abroad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministry of Culture, INAH, and other federal agencies, is engaged in ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Mexico's cultural heritage. They reaffirm their commitment to recovering the country's cultural heritage.