Three pre-Hispanic artifacts to return to Mexico from United States

Mexico is set to welcome back three significant pre-Hispanic artifacts that have been repatriated from the United States. The collection includes a striking anthropomorphic figure representing a warrior, a stone bowl, and a delicate obsidian blade.

The warrior figure, an "anthropomorphic figure" of the Ixtlán del Río style, is a detailed barro (clay) piece standing 91 centimeters tall. Adorned with a helmet, earrings, bracelets, and a breastplate, the warrior is depicted holding a spear. This artifact is associated with the Tumbas de Tiro tradition of western Mexico and dates back to between 100 BCE and 600 CE. It was formerly part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York.

The repatriation of these items was facilitated by investigations conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. The museum's ethical cooperation and institutional responsibility were acknowledged by the Mexican government. The stone bowl, believed to originate from the central region of present-day Guerrero state in southern Mexico, is estimated to date from 300 to 900 CE.

The third piece, a prismatic obsidian blade, showcases the sophisticated lithic industry developed in Mesoamerica during the pre-Hispanic era. Each artifact was linked to criminal investigations coordinated by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office's Antiquities Trafficking Unit. Specialists from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) confirmed the pre-Hispanic origin and Mexican national ownership of these valuable cultural assets.