Pottery, stones, bone tools… After being appraised, these works are exhibited to the public in the Templo Mayor museum, in the center of Mexico City.
With our correspondent in Mexico, Gwendolina Duval
It is the largest restitution of archaeological works made by individuals in Mexico. On July 11, 19 crates arrived in Mexico, filled with 2,522 objects and object fragments from Barcelona. The family of collectors gave them voluntarily and anonymously to Mexico, which is demanding the systematic repatriation of its heritage.
” It’s wonderful that little by little, we continue to recover all this cultural heritage. As a Mexican, I feel very happy to be able to observe this heritage that otherwise I might never have seen in my life. said a woman. “ Recovering the pieces that are part of our history is a way of getting closer to our origins: our pre-Hispanic history “continues a man.
Intensive work recovery policy
Mexico conducts an intensive policy to recover its heritage sold on the art markets or as here from private collectors. To the delight of this visitor: “ We have been victims of looting, we must recover what is ours, because this cultural heritage belongs to Mexico and not to Spain, or France or any other country “, she believes.
These objects come from the basin of Mexico and from different periods, explains Diego Prieto Hernandez, director of the National Institute of Anthropology. ” They are very small pieces, but of great value he says. Three other intruding objects from this anonymous donation would be Ecuadorian coins dating from the 2nd century BC. After expertise, they should in turn be returned to their country of origin.
► To read also: More than 2500 pre-Hispanic objects recovered by Mexico in Spain