Ignacio Higueras, Peru’s Deputy Foreign Minister, emphasized the voluntary nature of most returns, a trend echoing recent years.
He expressed gratitude towards foreign citizens who, recognizing the harm caused by illegal trafficking, have supported Peru’s endeavors in reclaiming its cultural heritage.
The ceremony, held at the Peruvian Foreign Ministry, showcased 198 archeological pieces, three historical documents, and one historic-artistic item.
Among the archeological treasures, 154 items were returned voluntarily by citizens, 42 stemmed from seizures by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and German police, and the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum in Los Angeles relinquished two.
These include pre-Hispanic artifacts like Incan club heads, various textile fragments and instruments from the Chancay culture, Chimú metalwork, and many ceramics from the Moche, Nazca, Lambayeque, and Inca periods.
