La Jornada: Italy returns 27 archaeological and paleontological pieces to Mexico

The Mexican embassy in Italy reported yesterday on the repatriation of 27 archaeological and paleontological pieces recovered through the work of the Carabineros Command for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of that European country.

The official delivery was led by the Mexican ambassador to Italy, Genaro Lozano, and Commander Antonio Petti, responsible for that specialized unit.

In a message spread on social networks, Lozano highlighted that the ceremony made it possible to restore pieces belonging to the Mexica, Mayan, Zapotec and Nayarita cultures.

Likewise, he thanked General Antonio Petti “for his excellent work” in the protection and recovery of cultural heritage, and reiterated the message of the Mexican campaign against the illicit trafficking of cultural property: “My heritage is not for sale.”

The embassy specified that among the recovered assets are Nayarit statues, Mayan pieces, Teotihuacan heads and fossils from the Cretaceous period.

He added that with the protection of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, these assets “are once again the living heritage of a community, reconnecting that invisible thread that unites our ancient history with the identity of today’s Mexico.”

The restitution is part of the cooperation efforts between Mexico and Italy to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property and recover pieces that are part of the country’s historical and archaeological heritage.