A headdress stolen from a Peruvian tomb almost 20 years ago has been recovered by police in London.
The headdress, considered a national treasure in its home country, was nicked in 1988 after a raid on a tomb in the Jequetepeque valley in northern Peru.
Depicting the image of a sea god, the headdress symbolises a mythical octopus with a stylised human head displaying cat-like features and eight tentacles.
It is an example of ancient Peruvian Mochica civilisation art dating back to 700AD and is regarded by experts as one of the most important artefacts in Peruvian cultural heritage.
The return of the headdress was organised by a firm of solicitors in central London on behalf of a client. It was recovered by officers from Scotland Yard’s Art and Antiques Squad.
It will now be repatriated to Peru through diplomatic channels.
Dr Walter Alva, director of the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum in Peru, described the seizure as "a very important moment in the worldwide war against illicit art and the looting of my country".
5 comments:
Thats neat. You guys steal it and return it and come out a hero. That sounds almost American.
that's funny debbie....but then so are the british..
Well like the British used to think , we own the world , so we can take what we want! Now it's your turn hahahha
We don't jointly own the world? {gasp}
Not yet , China are being stubborn , twats !
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