University of Richmond Returns Pre-Hispanic Artifacts to Mexico in Repatriation Ceremony

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — The University of Richmond recently returned several ancient, pre-Hispanic artifacts to Mexico in a repatriation ceremony.

The artifacts included a small, disc-shaped gaming piece created by pre-Hispanic cultures that settled in the central highlands of Mexico between 1200 and 1521 AD; anthropomorphic figures created by the Teotihuacan culture between 200 and 650 AD; and a fragment of an axe head from the central highlands region. There are also two figurines crafted during the Mesoamerican Classic period (100-650 AD), one of which represents a skeletal figure known as the god Xipe Tótec. They were donated to UR’s Ancient World Gallery by alum Frederic H. Morgan III, who inherited them from his father.

Last spring, junior Lucille Hancock studied the artifacts as part of a class on cultural property taught by classics and archaeology professor Elizabeth Baughan. Hancock and Baughan determined that these objects had been collected in Mexico in 1939, after one of Mexico’s cultural patrimony laws was in place.

“After studying these culturally valuable artifacts and Mexico’s patrimony laws, it was clear they should be repatriated,” said Baughan. “They are testaments to the lives of ancient people in Mexico, and we are pleased to be returning them to their home.”

A representative from the Embassy of Mexico came to the University to formally accept the artifacts.

“Since 2018, more than 14,000 archeological pieces have been repatriated,” said Felipe García Landa, deputy consul at the Embassy of Mexico. “This has been a priority for the government of Mexico, and these objects now add to that significant number.”

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