The governments of Denmark, Canada and the United States have returned 11 cultural assets to Mexico, including four pre-Hispanic figurines, six Talavera coins and a mammoth molar, the National Institute of Anthropology and History reported on Tuesday ( INAH) from Mexico.

In a statement, the INAH said that on that day the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) handed over the 11 archaeological, paleontological and historical pieces to the Federal Ministry of Culture.

The pieces were recovered by the diplomatic representations of Mexico in Denmark, Canada and the United States, which, according to the Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Areas, are part of the cultural heritage of Mexico.

The set of pieces, according to the text, included a mammoth molar, returned by the Royal BC Museum to the Consulate in Vancouver, Canada, and two Zapotec-style anthropomorphic figurines, returned by Danish citizens to the Mexican Embassy in Denmark.

In addition to two anthropomorphic figures in the Half Moon style, possibly from the homonymous site in the present state of San Luis Potosí, taken to the consulate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States.

Six colonial-era talavera pieces were also returned: three vases, two albarelos and a mosaic with religious motifs, which were voluntarily turned over to the consulate in El Paso, Texas, also in the United States.

The Mexican government has indicated that “the return of these pieces constitutes an example of the cooperation between the government of Mexico and various countries in the protection of heritage assets”.

As well as an example of international good practice for the preservation of the historical past of nations and the engagement of individuals with the return of cultural objects to their places of origin.

On January 9, the Mexican government condemned an online auction that includes 70 pre-Hispanic pieces and fragments that it claims belong to Mexican cultural heritage.

So far, in the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Mexican government has recovered from abroad at least 9,000 pieces considered national heritage, since the president has given priority to this action since taking office in December 2018.

Although not always successful, the Mexican government has fought auctions in cities like New York, Paris and Rome in which stolen or Mexican heritage items appear and has intensified lawsuits against foreign governments to recover pieces. archaeological and artistic. EF