Andina

Peru: FA Ministry hands over 74 assets repatriated from U.S. to Culture Ministry

Photo: ANDINA/Eddy Ramos

16:00 | Lima, Sep. 24.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over 74 cultural assets repatriated from the United States to the Ministry of Culture, thanks to the efforts of Peru's Embassy in the North American country and the Consulate General in New York City, in collaboration with U.S. authorities.



Deputy Minister Camino said this is the outcome of "close international cooperation, collaboration, and exchange of experiences, as well as effective implementation of our agreements on protection and recovery of cultural assets."

The batch consisted of 68 archaeological, 4 documentary items, and 2 vice-regal paintings. Among the archaeological pieces are 57 items that have been recovered under the voluntary return modality by individuals, and 11 items that were seized by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).


The archaeological assets include ceramics, textiles, lithics, metals, a wooden vessel, instruments crafted from animal bones, and two skulls, which are believed to be between 500 and 2,000 years old, and belong to the cultural styles of Paracas, Nazca, Cajamarca, Lambayeque, among others.


Regarding the returned documentary heritage, a handwritten contract by one of the first theater companies from the Americas in the 16th century stands out —signed by eight comedians residing in Callao region— which was stolen and later became part of the Rosenbach Collection at the Museum and Library of the same name in the 1920s.

At the end of last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recovered the document to return it to Peru in March 2024.

Also noteworthy is the return of two vice-regal paintings that were part of a diptych from the 17th century Cusco School, originally called "Saint Joseph, the Infant Jesus, and Saint Christopher." These were stolen from Surimana, Cusco region, in 2008, and were publicly offered in 2021 but seized by the FBI thanks to supporting documentation presented by Peru.


As part of the event, a workshop on illicit trafficking of cultural heritage took place. It was organized by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Culture Ministry, and the United States Embassy, with speakers from Peruvian institutions, HSI, the FBI, and the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).

This event took place at Torre Tagle Palace in the Peruvian capital, Lima, on Monday.

(END) NDP/JCR/MVB

Published: 9/24/2024