Consulate in Austin recovers pre-Hispanic archaeological piece for Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico — Mexico has received another of its missing archaeological pieces after being voluntarily returned. The General Consulate of Mexico in Austin, Texas, has announced the recovery of an archaeological piece of pre-Hispanic origin.

In a joint statement between Foreign Affairs (SRE) and the INAH, Crystal Orlando, who located the archaeological object, decided to voluntarily hand it over to the Consulate General of Mexico in Austin.

According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), it is a cylindrical censer made of clay and due to its characteristics, it is estimated to date from between 500 and 700 AD, similar to pieces found in the Archaeological Zone of Palenque, Chiapas.

The piece is part of the cultural heritage of Mexico, so it is under the protection provided by the Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Zones.

The pre-Hispanic piece will be returned to Mexico.

Photo: SRE August 22, 2023.

On August 20, 2023, the Consul General, Pablo Marentes, publicly presented the censer to local media and members of the community, based in central Texas.

Likewise, in that act the return process was carried out by Mrs. Crystal Orlando, who located the archaeological object and decided to deliver it to the General Consulate of Mexico in Austin.

In the near future, the piece will be repatriated to Mexico and later, the Legal Consultancy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will deliver it to the INAH for its proper protection, study, analysis and conservation.

Earlier this month, 20 pre-Hispanic archaeological pieces were being restored from Belgium. The pieces were surrendered voluntarily by collectors who had them over seven decades.