The objects comprised from 200 A.D. until the pre-Spanish colonial era. These pieces have been collected for seizures and voluntary deliveries. This could be done thanks to the fact that Mexico and its National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) analyzed the pieces that were voluntarily handed over to the authorities. Thus the delivery was made between the Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and the Peruvian Gustavo Meza-Cuadra.
All this is possible thanks to the fact that in 2002 Peru and Mexico signed a treaty with the objective of restoring assets that have been illegally extracted from the country. On the other hand, Peru in 2017 gave Mexico a total of 168 pieces that were in possession, after a period of 6 years.
The 37 pieces were delivered to Peru at the ceremony of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. Among these pieces were vessels, vases and figurines that are evidence of pre-Columbian art from both the Chimú and Lambayeque, Recucay and Chancay cultures, as well as Inca pieces and two pieces from the viceroyalty period.
Diego Prieto, general director of the INAH and in charge of the presentation of the pieces, commented to El País that this delivery of the archaeological pieces is a sample of the «commitment that Mexico has with the care and recovery of its heritage and with other nations so that can get yours back. ”
The archaeological pieces returned are great examples of the pottery, metallurgy and textile industry of the Nazca, Chimú, Inca, Lambayeque, Recuay, Chancay cultures between two wooden vessels from the viceroyalty period. The secretary of Mexican culture, Alejandra Fausto Guerrero, mentioned the delivery of the pieces «It is the meeting of two cultural powers», while Peruvian Foreign Minister Ebraid was mentioned as follows «Having an economic alliance is important, but the relationship is closer when essential causes are shared for our peoples: prevent the looting of our cultural heritage. ”