Peru vs Yale – Peruvian authorities wants archeology back from Yale University

Machu Picchu, Peru

Peru vs Yale – Peruvian authorities wants archeology back from Yale University

Rising proudly at over 7500 feet high ( 2300 meters ), Inca site of Machu Picchu was so inaccessible that the Spanish conquerors were never able to find it. But, in 1911, Yale historian Hiram Bingham rediscovered it, and between 1912 and 1915, directed the National Geographic Society in a series of expeditions that ended with many archaeological finds being transferred to the Yale University, allegedly with the permission of Peruvian president, Augusto Leguía.

90 years later, Peruvian authorities wants all those objects back, and had notified the Yale University President that a lawsuit is being prepared in case that an amicable resolution would not be reached.

Although I found this kind of matters very, very complex, I think that the Peruvian claim must be taken in consideration. This would not only be a case of historical justice (in 1911 Peruvians authorities were not conscious of the artistic and historical value of the Inca artefacts) but also an uncommon opportunity to end with an old case of “art without context”.

This kind of claims had been historically futile. From the old one made by Greek government to the British Museum asking for the Elgin marbles, to the recent demand made by Nigeria government involving stolen Nok objects. But also remember that the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Atlanta has recently returned to Egypt the mummy of Pharaoh Ramesses I, given the “historical importance” of the object. So I will raise one question here: is it more historically important to a country the old corpse of an ancient King, or the artistic artifacts from its most famous heritage site?