Yale University to return Machu Picchu treasures: Garcia
AFP
LIMA- Peruvian President Alan Garcia said Yale University of the United States had promised to return to Peru thousands of archeological artifacts taken from Machu Picchu a century ago.
"Yale University has decided to hand over all the artifacts and their parts that were taken by researcher Hiram Bingham," the president said Friday.
Garcia added that his government was grateful for this decision and the scientific contribution made by Yale researchers over the years.
Peruvian authorities have been locked in a seven-year battle with Yale over the artifacts, which included ceramics, ornaments and bones that US explorer Hiram Bingham brought to Yale between 1912 and 1916 on loan from Peru, but never returned.
Peru claims the university has some 46,000 items, but Yale says there are only 5,500, of which 330 are museum quality. The university has argued it has legal possession of the artifacts.
Early this month, Garcia asked President Barack Obama to help Peru recover the archeological pieces. Earlier this month, Culture Minister Juan Ossio said Yale and the Peruvian government were negotiating an agreement for the artifacts' return.
In 2007, Peru filed a lawsuit against Yale in a Connecticut court and the Garcia government encouraged street protests in his country to press his claims.
Machu Picchu, declared a World Heritage by UNESCO, stands on the eastern slopes of the Andes some 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level. The sanctuary is considered a symbol of the height of the Inca Empire.
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Peru claims the university has some 46,000 items, but Yale says there are only 5,500, of which 330 are museum quality. The university has argued it has legal possession of the artifacts.
Early this month, Garcia asked President Barack Obama to help Peru recover the archeological pieces. Earlier this month, Culture Minister Juan Ossio said Yale and the Peruvian government were negotiating an agreement for the artifacts' return.
In 2007, Peru filed a lawsuit against Yale in a Connecticut court and the Garcia government encouraged street protests in his country to press his claims.
Machu Picchu, declared a World Heritage by UNESCO, stands on the eastern slopes of the Andes some 2,430 meters (7,970 feet) above sea level. The sanctuary is considered a symbol of the height of the Inca Empire.
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