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Published Monday, January 18, 2021
U.S. commits to detecting archaeological
artifacts trafficked from Costa Rica
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
On Friday, Sharon Day, Ambassador of the United States, and Rodolfo Solano, Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed an agreement in which Costa Rica agrees to share information on illegal excavations, robberies and trafficking of archaeological artifacts.
According to the embassy, with this agreement between both countries, a list of artifacts made with jade, gold, stone, bone, resin and shell from the pre-Columbian period that goes from 12,000 BC to the establishment of Hispanic culture in Costa Rica in 1,550 AD, will be created.
The list of registered artifacts will allow United States police forces to detect these pieces in case of possible smuggling or traffic crime and then return them to Costa Rica.
"The United States respects the history and culture of Costa Rica, an invaluable heritage that criminals, unfortunately, seek to exploit for profit, a situation that continues today with pieces being trafficked to the United States and around the world," Day said. "Our commitment is to combat the trafficking of cultural property and protect that heritage."
According to Marie Royce, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, the agreement is like a testament to a joint commitment to protect the cultural heritage of Costa Rica.
"Heritage sites that are hundreds and thousands of years old and that are a record of civilizations over time, are quickly destroyed for financial gain," Royce said. "The result is the irreparable loss of historical information and, ultimately, the memory. The United States has been faithful in its commitment to fight the trafficking in cultural property."
According to the embassy, the agreement also authorizes the exchange of the archaeological pieces for cultural, educational and scientific purposes, as long-term loans, intending to promote generalized public appreciation and access to Costa Rican cultural heritage.
The understanding is valid for five years, which can be extended by mutual agreement of both countries. The act of signing the contract can be seen on the Embassy's Facebook page.
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What other agreements between both countries could be signed to support the pre-Hispanic culture in Costa Rica? We
would like to know your thoughts on this story.
Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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