Mexico City, Mexico — The Government of Mexico, through its embassy in the United States, received 20 archaeological pieces of Mexican origin for restitution.
Of the 20 pieces, 19 were delivered anonymously and one voluntarily donated by a U.S. citizen.
Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán received a Mayan-style clay vessel from citizen Anne Lee Dozier, who indicated that she acquired it years ago in a store near Washington, DC.
Mrs. Dozier said that when visiting the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, she observed that the piece was similar to some of those exhibited in this venue, so it decided to return it voluntarily.
According to the opinion made by specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the archaeological goods delivered are property of the Mexican nation in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Monuments and Zones.
The Mayan style vessel comes from the southeast of the country and dates from the Classic period, between 200-800 AD, while the 19 pieces received anonymously belong to different periods and cultures such as the Mexica, Teotihuacan and Totonaca. They come from different states and regions of the country.
