Middlesex County Museum Returns Historic Cultural Material To Peru

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — The Middlesex County Arts Institute recently took a significant step by repatriating historic cultural material from its museum to Peru.

The County’s Division of History and Historic Preservation identified culturally significant objects to be returned to their country of origin.

Recognizing the ethical, moral, and legal concerns surrounding the artifacts, the County's curators collaborated with the Consulate General of Peru to facilitate their repatriation, County officials said.

The Middlesex County Board of Commissioners supported this decision and authorized the deaccession through a resolution presented on Thursday, June 1. The official repatriation ceremony was held the same evening.

"Middlesex County takes immense pride in returning these historically and culturally significant artifacts to their rightful place in Peru," Director of the Board of County Commissioners, Ronald G. Rios, said in a statement.

"On behalf of the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners, I would like to extend our gratitude to the County’s Division of History and Historic Preservation for their efforts in identifying the ethical and problematic issues with having these artifacts in our collection and working diligently to repatriate them.”

Rios said the County was committed to returning cultural items to their rightful owners.

This is the second time this year that the Middlesex County Arts Institute has repatriated historical artifacts to their native land.

In March, a collection of indigenous artifacts that were taken from Mexico City in 1941 were returned to Mexico.

The artifacts included 160 ceramic and stone objects many with decorative images and sculpted elements. It is believed to belonged to pre-Aztec cultures at Teotihuacán about 1,000 years ago. The materials are undergoing further evaluation by experts in Mexico to make a final determination.

“Middlesex County stands firmly committed to cultural stewardship, acknowledging the importance of returning these artifacts to their rightful owners,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Chanelle Scott McCullum said in a statement.

“This collaborative effort sets an exemplary precedent for ethical cultural preservation initiatives worldwide."

The County worked with Peru’s Consul General Patricia Raez Portocarrero in Paterson. Museum staff meticulously identified the materials in question.

“Thank you very much to the Arts Institute of Middlesex County and the County and the County Commissioners for acknowledging and returning these artifacts to the People of Peru, as this is an integral part of who are as Peruvians and where we come from, as part of our identity and National History,” Raez Portocarrero said.

Photographs of several clay artifacts were sent to the Ministry of Culture in Lima, Peru, where they were confirmed to belong to the pre-Hispanic Culture "Chimu" with "Lambayeque and Casma" styles, originating from the North Coast of Peru during the Middle Horizon (600 AD - 1000 AD) and Late Intermediate (1000 AD - 1476 AD) periods.

The clay vessels feature incised geometric patterns, with some adorned with animal motifs.

Middlesex County Historian Mark Nonestied said the repatriation effort marks an important milestone in preserving Peru's cultural heritage.

"Through collaboration and mutual respect, we ensure the rightful owners reclaim their rich history while allowing future generations to appreciate and learn from these remarkable artifacts," Nonestied said.

Over the years, the chorus has grown for Western museums to return artifacts to their countries of origin.

Last year, about 60 antiquities valued at around $19 million were returned to Italy by the Manhattan DA. Most of these items were trafficked and ended up in the collection of billionaire Michael Steinhardt, the DA's office said.

While many European museums and collectors continue to return artifacts, the British Museum still holds the largest number of artifacts from across the world that were looted during colonization and military invasions.

Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com