The Monster of the Earth, the jewel of Olmec culture, is about to return to Mexico.
The piece will be repatriated from Denver, Colorado, after living in the United States for more than 60 years.
Mexican consul Jorge Islas received the piece from the New York prosecutor’s office on 19 May. Together with Dr. Miramontes of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), he carried out an investigation to ascertain the condition of the fragment.
Earth’s monster was exhumed by a group of antiquities smugglers in the 50s.
According to Islas, he confirmed that the piece given by the US officials is the same piece that was displayed in 1970. In addition, the shape of this piece underwent some modifications.
Ya en Denver,Colorado, para recibir esta importantísima obra de la civilización olmeca sustraída ilegalmente de Morelos en los años sesenta. Gracias a la acción coordinada del cónsul Jorge Islas en Nueva York y la Fiscalía de Distrito de esa ciudad se ha logrado su recuperación. pic.twitter.com/p9wafucpjE
— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) May 19, 2023
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard traveled to Denver this Friday and through a message on Twitter he assured that the recovery of the Olmeca fragment is one: a Mexican victory.
He explained that the Mexican government had filed a criminal complaint eight months ago through Consul Islas in Manhattan.
“This recovery is very important because of the value of the piece, in addition to belonging to one of the most important cultures in Mexico,” said Ebrard, stressing that the INAH had been looking for him for 25 years.
Desde Denver, Colorado :por recibir la pieza histórica más importante que hemos recuperado en el exterior. Proveniente de la gran civilización Olmeca fue sustraída de nuestro país hace 65 años.Victoria mexicana después de años de investigación y acción legal. pic.twitter.com/qiCCOUncQy
— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) May 19, 2023
