Priceless Treasures Stolen From Museum in Mexico : Worldwide Smuggling Suspected

Thieves stole 140 priceless gold, jade and stone relics of the Aztec, Mayan and other Indian civilizations from the National Museum of Anthropology and History when it was closed for Christmas, officials said today.

A cultural official called the theft “the biggest plundering that has been done to the Mexican archeological heritage” and said it was probably linked to the international trade in smuggled artifacts.

Among the objects listed as missing from seven showcases were almost all those on display from the sacred reservoir at the Mayan city of Chichen-Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula, several pieces from the Palenque ruins in southern Mexico and priceless golden objects from the Mixtec Indians.

Bat God Mask

Also missing was the Zapotec mask of the murcielago, or bat god, and an Aztec obsidian sculpture representing a monkey, listed in guidebooks as one of the most valuable pieces in the museum. It depicts the god of dance, games and love.

Enrique Florescano, director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, told reporters that officials had thought security was adequate at the museum, which is one of the city’s major tourist attractions.

“Today, we proved in a terrible way that these measures were insufficient,” he told a news conference Wednesday night. There was no immediate estimate of the value of the loss. Details of how the thieves entered and made their getaway were not immediately known.

Dismantled Display Case

The thieves carefully lifted off the clear top of at least one free-standing display case and left it unbroken on the floor.

Afternoon editions of the newspaper Excelsior reported today that Federal Judicial Police had begun interrogating museum guards and employees, while Interpol-Mexico was seeking information from other countries where archeological artifacts had been stolen.

It said notices had been posted at all ports, airports, highway and railroad stations, although six private planes had taken off from Mexico City’s international airport before the theft was reported.

The museum in central Chapultepec Park was closed today because of the robbery. About 10 police guards stood outside.

At ‘Cultural Roots’

Museum official Mario Vazquez said, “It is the cultural root of the Mexicans that they have robbed from us.”

“These are famous, old pieces. . . . They’ve illustrated lots of literature,” said National Geographic Society archeologist George Stuart, adding that the pieces are too famous to be displayed.

“I guess they could sell them to somebody, but they could never be shown. They’re as hot as the Mona Lisa would be if it were for sale on the illicit market,” Stuart said in an interview with Associated Press Radio in Washington.

Looting archeological treasures from the thousands of sites in Mexico has been a persistent problem. Archeologists say looting in modern times is stimulated by collectors who are often motivated by investment rather than artistic or historical interest.

The main market for ancient artifacts appears to have switched to Europe from the United States, which has an agreement with Mexico and other countries to return stolen pieces.