Guatemala stakes claim to stone lintel by 'the Michelangelo of the pre-Columbian era' that was repatriated to Mexico

"Guatemala's cultural ministry has now formally requested the object's repatriation from the Mexican government through diplomatic channels. Guatemala's cultural ministry said in a statement that technical analysis based on bibliographic research, comparative studies and consultations with archaeologists had concluded that the lintel came from the country's Petén Basin. Consequently, it is considered part of Guatemala's cultural heritage."

"Hours after its official repatriation on 16 April, experts determined the piece had actually come from Guatemala. The process is being coordinated through Guatemala's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "There is a very positive attitude, as has been the case in recent years, towards this type of collaboration," Méndez told local media in Guatemala, "so that cultural heritage can return to its place of origin.""

"The limestone lintel, dating from the Mesoamerican Classic period (AD600-AD900), shows a complex ritual scene associated with the Maya ruler Cheleew Chan K'inich. The lintel remained hidden from public view for decades and passed through private collections before recently reappearing in New York. The repatriation ceremony at the Mexican consulate in New York Courtesy the Consulate General of Mexico in New York"

A Maya stone lintel was returned to Mexico after being taken to the Mexican consulate in New York by a US businessman. Hours after the official repatriation on 16 April, experts determined the lintel actually came from Guatemala. Guatemala’s cultural ministry formally requested repatriation from the Mexican government through diplomatic channels. Technical analysis based on bibliographic research, comparative studies, and consultations with archaeologists concluded the lintel originated in Guatemala’s Petén Basin and therefore belongs to Guatemala’s cultural heritage. The cultural minister said formal efforts to recover the artefact have begun, coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The limestone lintel dates to the Mesoamerican Classic period and depicts a ritual scene linked to the Maya ruler Cheleew Chan K’inich. It had been hidden from public view for decades and later appeared in New York.

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