recovered and returned 16 cultural items to the Peruvian Consul General in Los Angeles, Jose Luis Chavez, during a ceremony that took place at the
in said city last Friday.
The 16 repatriated objects are an important part of Peru's cultural heritage and include: two 17th-century paintings, 10 historical documents, and four stone axes.
The painting of Virgen de Guadalupe —owned by the Archbishopric of Cusco and which was stolen in 2002— belongs to Santiago Apostol Temple in Ollantaytambo district, Urubamba province (Cusco region).
Meanwhile, the Pentecostes oil painting —owned by Santa Cruz de Orurillo Parish Temple in Puno— was stolen in 2019.
Peruvian Consul Chavez thanked the
FBI for its collaboration in recovering this valuable cultural heritage items that have incalculable value for Peruvians.
The restitution of these objects is the outcome of a close collaboration between the United States and Peru —as part of ongoing efforts to recover and return cultural property.
"The world's ancient and historic monuments, artifacts, and archaeological sites enrich and inform today's societies, helping us connect with our cultural origins. The United States Government is committed to combating theft and trafficking of cultural heritage, as well as preserving and protecting it wherever it is found," the
Embassy said in a release.
"The
FBI is pleased to finalize the return of these pieces as part of its ongoing commitment to locate and return cultural heritage objects worldwide and ensure that they are safe and available for future generations," it added.
Peru and the United States of America celebrate this year the 25th anniversary of the signing of the 1997 Memorandum of Understanding regarding the imposition of restrictions on the importation of archaeological material from pre-Hispanic cultures and certain ethnological materials from the colonial era of Peru.