Italy Returns 101 Artifacts to Mexico, Highlighting Ongoing Cultural Cooperation

In a significant gesture of cultural diplomacy, Italian officials recently handed over 101 valuable artifacts to Mexican representatives, including Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico’s Foreign Minister, María Teresa Mercado, the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, and Carlos García, Mexico’s ambassador to Italy. The handover ceremony, held at the Mexican Embassy in Rome, marks another step in the growing cooperation between Italy and Mexico in protecting cultural heritage.

The artifacts, seized from various locations including Rome, Perugia, Udine, Ancona, and Consenza, have been traced back to a variety of archaeological sites in Mexico. The oldest item among them dates back to 900 B.C. These items, which include precious archaeological pieces, were originally looted and have now been successfully returned to their rightful home.

Both Italian and Mexican officials emphasized the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage, and their cooperation in this area has grown to include specialized training for Mexico’s National Guard in heritage asset protection. Since 2018, Italy has repatriated nearly 800 artifacts to Mexico, underscoring the ongoing efforts to combat the illegal trade in cultural heritage and ensure the preservation of these priceless treasures.

In addition, the return of these artifacts highlights the broader international collaboration in protecting the history of ancient civilizations. To learn more about fascinating discoveries, check out the recent excavation of a tomb in a little-known Maya city in Guatemala. What other archaeological treasures do you think are still out there, waiting to be rediscovered?