Italy, Switzerland, Germany, U.S. and El Salvador repatriate recovered Mayan artefacts to Guatemala

Record ID: 165460

  • Title: Italy, Switzerland, Germany, U.S. and El Salvador repatriate recovered Mayan artefacts to Guatemala
  • Date: 24th January 2017
  • Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JANUARY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR GUATEMALAN CULTURE AND SPORTS MINISTRY WORKERS UNLOADING REPATRIATED ARTEFACTS FROM CARGO BOXES PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES VARIOUS OF MAYAN ARTEFACTS BEING REMOVED FROM BOXES AND LAID DOWN ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALAN CULTURE AND SPORTS MINISTER JOSE LUIS CHEA, SAYING: "Today, we are presenting nine of the 22 pieces we have recovered, scattered around Europe and the United States. Some were recovered in Ancona, Italy, others in Switzerland, others in Germany, others in Los Angeles and finally, the last two, perhaps the most important in El Salvador." CHEA POSING FOR PICTURE WITH OTHER GUATEMALAN AUTHORITIES AND ARTEFACTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) EDUARDO HERNANDEZ, HEAD OF THE PREVENTION DEPARTMENT FOR THE CONTROL OF ILLICIT TRAFFIC OF CULTURAL PROPERTY, SAYING: "The majority of cases, of this type of goods that are outside the borders of Guatemala, is due to the looting that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s." VARIOUS OF RECOVERED MAYAN ARTEFACTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) EDUARDO HERNANDEZ, HEAD OF THE PREVENTION DEPARTMENT FOR THE CONTROL OF ILLICIT TRAFFIC OF CULTURAL PROPERTY, SAYING: "Practically, 10,000 (artefacts) per month used to be taken from Peten's archaeological sites, abroad. So logically, we understand that logic that all those artefacts are in the international trade, in private collections, museums in the United States or in other countries, but little by little we have to locate and claim that large amount of cultural goods." VARIOUS OF RECOVERED MAYAN ARTEFACTS ON DISPLAY WITH OFFICIALS AND MEDIA LOOKING AT THEM
  • Embargoed: 7th February 2017 21:40
  • Keywords: Guatemala Mayan artefacts Germany Italy Switzerland U.S.
  • Location: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
  • City: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Topics: Art,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA00160FZO77
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Guatemala's Culture and Sports Ministry have received 22 archaeological pieces of Mayan origin, which were recovered abroad during 2016. The pieces will be reintegrated into the archaeological heritage of the Central American nation, authorities reported.
    Nine of these artefacts were presented to the media on Tuesday (January 24).
    The pieces were recovered in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the United States and El Salvador. They include Mayan fragments, panels and friezes, which had been stolen, Guatemalan Culture and Sports Minister Jose Luis Chea said.
    "Today, we are presenting nine of the 22 pieces we have recovered, scattered around Europe and the United States. Some were recovered in Ancona, Italy, others in Switzerland, others in Germany, others in Los Angeles and finally, the last two, perhaps the most important in El Salvador," Chea said.
    Nine of the pieces were recovered in Switzerland, after they were delivered voluntarily to the embassy of the Central American country in that country. Seven more were recovered by the FBI in Los Angeles, according to a news release issued by Guatemalan Culture and Sports Ministry.
    Four of the artefacts recovered by the FBI, belong to the stele number 34 at the archaeological site Peru Waka, San Andres Peten.
    Another three were found Berlin, before they were about to be auctioned illegally. Two more - from the archaeological sites of Aguateca and Dos Pilas in Peten - were recovered in El Salvador after an unauthorised museum was raided and another piece was recovered by Italian police in Ancona.
    Some of the recovered pieces will be integrated into the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and Etnology, while others will be channelled to other cultural institutions and museums around the country, Guatemalan authorities reported.
    Eduardo Hernandez, Head of the Prevention Department for the Control of Illicit Traffic of Cultural Property, said most of the recovered artefacts were stolen in the 1960s and 1970s.
    "The majority of cases, of this type of goods that are outside the borders of Guatemala, is due to the looting that occurred in the 1960s and 1970s.
    "Practically, 10,000 (artefacts) per month used to be taken from Peten's archaeological sites, abroad. So logically, we understand that logic, that all those artefacts are in the international trade, in private collections, museums in the United States or in other countries, but little by little we have to locate and claim that large amount of cultural goods," Hernandez added.
    The Maya built soaring temples and elaborate palaces in Central America and southern Mexico, dominating the region for some 2,000 years, before mysteriously abandoning their cities around 900 AD.
    For years, conservation at archaeological sites in Peten, has been threatened by drug traffickers who use the area to ship cocaine and heroin across the porous border with Mexico, deforestation by locals, looters who steal ancient artefacts to sell on the black market and wild animal poachers.
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