University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Museum returns 201 cultural objects to Peru

17:35 | Chicago (U.S.), Sep. 15.

At a ceremony held at the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 201 cultural objects were voluntarily returned to the Peruvian State, reflecting the diversity and high degree of development achieved by the South American country's ancient civilizations.

During the ceremony, Peru's Consul General in Chicago Veronika Bustamante thanked the Spurlock Museum and the University of Illinois for their willingness to return the cultural objects and for the care they had provided for them.

Bustamante said the return contributes to strengthening cultural and academic cooperation ties between the two countries as part of the bicentennial of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Likewise, she highlighted the coordination work carried out with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture.

In turn, Spurlock Museum Director Elizabeth A. Sutton noted that this is the largest return of cultural objects carried out by the institution and serves as a reference for future repatriations to other countries.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Vice Provost for Global Engagement Colleen Murphy, representing Chancellor John Coleman attended the event as well.

Among the 201 pieces on display are a Nasca ceramic vessel, a funerary mask, a Lambayeque-style gold cup, two Moche ceramic bottles, and an Inca-style quipu.

For their transportation to Peru, each piece will undergo specialized packaging in accordance with the technical guidelines issued by the Ministry of Culture.

The recovery of these cultural objects will allow the country to regain important expressions of its historical memory.

It will also contribute to research, education, and the transmission of knowledge about Peru's cultural heritage.

(END) NDP/DAA/CCR/MVB

Publicado: 15/9/2026

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