Colombia recovered 174 pre-Columbian archaeological artifacts from Chile this Monday, according to the Colombian Foreign Ministry. The items were voluntarily returned by the Chilean Errázuriz Cox family after decades in private hands.
The collection, primarily consisting of artifacts from the Tumaco-La Tolita culture, was presented during an official ceremony in Santiago. With this handover, the number of cultural assets repatriated by the country has surpassed 1,000 items in recent years.
The archaeological trove includes pieces from the San Agustín culture, whose park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The collection also features objects from the Tayrona people, who inhabited the modern-day departments of Magdalena, La Guajira, and Cesar.
Future of the artifacts
Colombia's Ambassador to Chile, Sebastián Guanumen, presided over the handover ceremony alongside diplomatic and cultural officials from both nations. The administration of the artifacts will be overseen by the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH).
This agency will be responsible for the research, conservation, and promotion of the collection. Authorities plan to eventually transport the pieces to the Tumaco-La Tolita Archaeological Museum to be exhibited in their region of origin.
This move adds to Colombia's ongoing diplomatic efforts to reclaim its heritage. The country currently holds the presidency of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property and is pursuing active claims, such as the recovery of the Quimbaya Treasure from Spain.
