Monument 9, a valuable artifact of the Olmec culture that was stolen from Mexico by antiquities traffickers more than half a century ago, has finally been repatriated last week thanks to the collaboration of the armed forces on a return flight.
This bas-relief, which has a height of 1.8 meters, a width of 1.5 meters and a weight close to one ton, dates back at least 2,500 years and depicts a creature known as the ‘monster of the earth’, whose open jaws symbolize access to the underworld. This was explained by researcher Mario Córdova Tello, belonging to the center of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in the Mexican state of Morelos.
During the ceremony of delivery of the piece, which took place in Denver, Colorado, and was attended by US authorities, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard emphasized the immense value that this figure has for the nation.
“The absence of this piece was a wound, an essential lack,” Ebrard said, highlighting the close cooperation between the two countries. In his Twitter account, the diplomat said that this archaeological object is the most significant recovered abroad in recent decades.
Currently, the Olmec piece is on display at the Regional Museum of the Peoples of Morelos and is expected to return to its place of origin, the archaeological zone of Chalcatzingo, in the same state, after its public exhibition.