Artifacts returned to Peru Embassy

Four dozen ancient Peruvian artifacts, including a blood-stained burial shroud used to wrap a mummy at least 1,200 years ago, were returned to the Peruvian Embassy on Friday by U.S. customs officials who had seized the smuggled goods.

The textiles, jewelry, pottery and metal works were recovered during three investigations, including one in Alexandria, Va., involving a 74-year-old man who tried to sell items to a local antiquities dealer, who in turn called authorities, according to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Customs officials turned over the 49 items at a ceremony at the Peruvian Embassy in Washington to highlight efforts to curtail the illicit trade in antiquities. The items, officially valued at more than $1 million, are priceless to the Peruvian culture, Peruvian Ambassador Eduardo Ferrero said.

“There is a market in developed countries that have the money to buy these things,” Ferrero said. “This is the patrimony of Peru and the Peruvian people.”

Michael Garcia, head of the customs bureau, said most items are smuggled into the U.S. by individuals who want to sell artifacts or add to their private collection.

“These are cultural treasures,” Garcia said. “They do not belong to any one person. They belong to a culture.”

The items, representing the Moche, Chimu and Chancay cultures, date from 100 to 1530 AD and include rarely seen items such as a delicately carved mother-of-pearl knife and a copper and gold ceremonial knife.

Ferrero said the items will be returned to Peru, where they will be studied and eventually displayed in museums in Lima and around the country.