• The piece, from the Laguna Pethá archaeological site in Chiapas, has been at Albion College in Michigan since 1969.
  • In the spirit of cooperation, the university and the Mexican consulate in Detroit signed an agreement to repatriate it to Mexico.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and Mexico's consulate in Detroit, Michigan have enabled the return of a Mayan urn from Albion College in Michigan, U.S. The urn dates from between 900 - 1600 A.D. and specialists consider it to be of high historical value.

In the spirit of cooperation, Albion College and the Consulate of Mexico in Detroit signed an agreement on April 13 at the university to repatriate the artifact to the Museo de los Altos in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, and display it alongside a twin urn. 

Present at the ceremony were the president of Albion College, Mathew Johnson; the Mexican consul in Detroit, Fernando González Saiffe; Arizona State University Professor Joel Palka, and INAH archaeologist Josuhé Lozada —who have worked together on researching the piece; and INAH Director General Diego Prieto Hernández, who participated virtually.

The agreement for the restitution of the Mayan urn is part of the efforts in  diplomacy and international cultural cooperation for the recovery of cultural property.

The consular authorities said that the piece, from the Laguna Pethá archaeological site in Chiapas, has a value intrinsically linked to the history and context of its peoples of origin, and its restitution is important as part of its cultural capital and to understand the past and development of the area.

The urn's restitution raises awareness of the importance of returning cultural property to its place of origin.

The recovery of this Mayan urn and reunification with its twin artifact represent an act of great importance for Mexico and its historical heritage. In addition, it strengthens the cultural ties and friendship in matters of cultural heritage  between Mexico and the United States.

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