Mutual restitution between Italy and Mexico. Franceschini: concrete gesture of cultural diplomacy.

Cultural diplomacy gesture between Italy and Mexico. Italy has in fact returned to the Central American country thirty archaeological artifacts illegally removed from Mexican territory. These are three terracotta figurines belonging to the Mayan cultures of the state of Campeche (6th-10th centuries AD) and the Remojadas culture of the state of Veracruz (3rd-7th centuries AD); two figurines of anthropomorphic figures in molded clay dating back to the Teotihuacana culture of the central plateau of Mexico (3rd-7th centuries AD) and that of the central valleys of Oaxaca (11th-16th centuries AD. A.D.); seventeen archaeological finds belonging to the Totonaca, Michoacán, Coyotlatelco, Zapoteca, Mixteca, and Maya cultures or pertaining to the preclassic, classical, and postclassic Mesoamerican periods; six anthropomorphic figurines in terracotta, clay, and small stone; a rock necklace; and a clay vase with decorations.

The artifacts were seized by the Nuclei of the Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale Command in different regions of our country, recognized and authenticated by officials of the Museum of Civilizations in Rome andMexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia and returned Friday to authorities of the republic of the United Mexican States during a ceremony attended by General Teo Luzi, Commander General of the Carabinieri Corps; General Roberto Riccardi, Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale; Carlos García de Alba, Ambassador of Mexico to Italy; and Andrea De Pasquale, Director of the Central Archives of the Italian State.

Mexico will reciprocate by returning to Italy the 1,271 documents that make up the personal archives of Italian sculptor Ettore Ferrari (Rome, 1845 - 1929), author of, among other things, the statue of Giordano Bruno at Campo dei Fiori in Rome. These are documents that were acquired in 2006 by jurist and senator Arturo Zamora at the suggestion of antiquarian Armando Boyzu, who in turn had acquired them from a private individual. The return came at the behest of Zamora himself, who strongly desired the return of these documents to Italy, that is, to their place of origin, as a gesture of recognition for Italy’s many returns of Mexican assets in recent years.

“A concrete gesture of cultural diplomacy,” said Culture Minister Dario Franceschini, “which confirms Italy’s commitment to combating the illicit trafficking of cultural goods and to returning to the countries of origin the cultural heritage to which they belong.”

Mutual restitution between Italy and Mexico. Franceschini: concrete gesture of cultural diplomacy.

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