Repatriations of Maya Antiquities to Guatemala: Successes, Pitfalls, and Significant Factors

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

While scholars have been concerned since the 1960s about the widespread looting of Maya sites to supply the international antiquities market, countless objects have been illicitly exported over the decades from Guatemala and surrounding countries. The repatriation of looted antiquities to their countries of origin has received increased attention as source countries request the return of their archaeological heritage and more objects are repatriated as a result. In addition, Memoranda of Understanding, international treaties, and changes to museum ethical codes and acquisition policies have led institutions and collectors to be more cautious about owning ancient art. Nevertheless, the return of illicit Maya antiquities to their source countries is a relatively recent phenomenon compared to the long history of looting in the area and has varying rates of success depending on an object’s individual circumstances. As a result, minimal research exists regarding the variety of repatriation cases and the factors contributing to successful outcomes. By analyzing the return of looted Maya antiquities to the Guatemalan government and the mechanisms through which repatriations have been achieved, this paper aims to outline factors that may lead to successful returns of looted Maya objects in the future.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 41604.0