The pieces, associated with the Valdivia culture, come from a trafficking network of archaeological objects discovered two years ago by the FBI. Doris Solís, Coordinating Minister of Natural and Cultural Heritage, commented that support to seizure operations is part of the budget and the organization`s agenda, under the Cultural Emergency Decree. In fact, as noted by the archaeologist Alexandra Yepez, this type of traffic is very common, especially to and from countries like France, Spain, Germany and Norway.
Solis also announced the return of 336 pieces located in Argentina, while the forum on antiquities smuggling organized by the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar will continue today and tomorrow.
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Ecuador recovers 168 archeological pieces
The Ecuadorian Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC) and the Interpol managed to recover 168 archaeological pieces that correspond to the rich heritage of Ecuador. The objects were due to arrive last night in Guayaquil. The shipment that comes from Miami (USA) consists of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic ceramic figurines, shell beads and stone spondylus necklaces. There are also bowls, pots, stamps or pintaderas, and ceramic bottles. In addition, whistles, flutes and containers of lime. This is according to a report by archaeologist José Chancay, INPC technician, sent to perform the task. The pieces come from nine pre-Columbian cultural societies settled in Ecuador. Among them are Valdivia, Chorrera, Guangala and La Tolita, Jama Coaque and Bahia. The recovery of archeology is managed since 2005. The office of the International Council of Museums (ICOM, for its acronym in English) gave the alert to Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France, on the winning bid for a batch of over 600 pre-Columbian Ecuadorian pieces. In that year, after investigations, it was determined the existence of 168 of them in the United States. Interpol and the INPC will handled the repatriation of archaeological this set. This version was released through a statement made by the Ecuadorian entity. The pieces were due to arrive, according to Fernando Salme, from the Department of the Coordinating Ministry of Cultural and Natural Heritage, last night at 22:30, in a flight from Miami. There was a delay, as these were supposed to arrive at 13:10 yesterday. The recovered objects would be available to the INPC. |
Comments
Otra reflexion es, y que se hace con el trafico interno? Pues, si hacemos esfuerzos por traer el patrimonio mal habido en el extrajero, por que no se hace lo mismo con el patrimonio mal habido en el Ecuador? O por ser ecautoriano, hay el derecho a coleccionar material ilicitamente obtenio? Esta falta consistencia, nunca lo entenderé, peor aún cuando se utiliza dinero estatal a travéz del decreto de emergencia patrimonial para "darles haciendo" inventarios a los coleccionistas.... la plata del estado a favor de los que al igual que coleccionan en el extranjero, lo hacen aca, con claro infringimiento de la ley.
Pero bueno, a lo mejor en esto pocos son los arqueologos concientes del pais, pues algunos de mis colegas, no le ven problema y hasta defienden el coleccionismo, en esta misma arena hemos podido leer entre lineas esta defensa. Muchos conocen, por ejemplo el nefasto episodio en donde una directora del INPC del litoral, compraba en las mismas oficinas el material que los huaqueros llevaban al INPC, e incluso el arqueologo del INPC tsaba este material a pedido de la directora, cuando, por su puesto otros, que ahora eta implicado en el asunto de Miami, no tenia tiempo de hacerlo. Luego se por fuentes fidelignas, que etsa señora trató de venderle la colección al Museo del Banco Central, en la cifra de 10 millones de dólares, por cierto no la compraron. Como regalo, aquella dama de la alta alcurnia guayaca, recibó el premio espejo a la cultura...
Y el Colegio de Arqueologos? tendrá una posición? Porque el silencio amigos......