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Bust of a Different Kind For Once

DAS seizes a huge shipment of archeological pieces

Publication Date : 27/08/2004 11:09:01

DAS seizes a huge shipment of archeological pieces in the north of Bogotá

Almost two thousand pieces dated 200 d.c were hidden in a pre- Columbian art gallery

The archeological treasure was illegally unburied from pre - Columbian tombs in the central and south areas of the country. This treasure was being commercialized

After intelligence duties, das detectives in charge of the cultural property and environment area could recover a huge quantity of archeological pieces from different shapes and sizes. These pieces belonged to the muisca, quimbaya, quillacinga, nariño, tumaco, tumbaga and san agustin cultures.

In the operative, more than two thousand pieces of an invaluable price for the cultural and historical property of our country were found. These pieces dated 200 a.c. And were subject to illegal plundering.

The north american national named harvey gene aronson, owner of the pre-columbian indigenous art gallery "clavia" had the archeological objects. This person does not provide any register or possession right. The foreigner ascertained that he had these pieces since the 70s.

In the art gallery, the genuine pieces were sold, and there were issued authenticity certificates. This gallery also commercialized replicas of our cultural patrimony.

This operative was carried out in conjunction with experts from the instituto colombiano de antropología e historia icanh (colombian antropology and history institute), who performed an initial inspection that proved the authenticity of the found pieces.

The recovered patrimony is under disposition of the ministry of culture, who will order a process in order to establish the trafficking of the pieces to other countries and, if possible, begin a criminal process.

Among the seized pieces, there are 850 cups with base, 670 pots, 8 urns, 330 bowls. 3 san agustin urns, 25 composed vessels, 42 tumaco figures, 5 bowls made of bones and 2 tumbaga nose rings.

By Sam Salmon on Aug 31, 2004, 21:25 in Friendly Talkzone.