Last week, Chilean authorities returned 117 fossils, confiscated from smugglers, to Morocco.
The ceremony was held on Monday at the National Library of Chile in Santiago. The event was attended by representatives of both countries, including Nelida Pozo Kudo (Director, Chilean National Heritage Service) and Kenza El Ghali (The Moroccan ambassador to Chile). Pozo Kudo said: “Chilean customs’ seizure of these Moroccan-origin fossils and their return to the kingdom is a clear example of both countries’ commitment to combating illicit access to cultural property in accordance with international law.” El Ghali added: “Smuggling of antiquities and fossils dating back millions of years may be worse than drug trafficking.”
The ceremony ended with the signing of an agreement that promised cultural collaboration between the two countries. The fossils in question have been considered invaluable, with many dating back to 400 million years. The fossils were confiscated by Chilean customs officials from smugglers.
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Over the last few years, smaller nations have been at the forefront of seeking the repatriation of cultural artifacts looted from them – either directly by the host country or via smugglers. In February of this year, Chileans launched a social media campaign demanding the return of the Easter Island statues from the British Museum to their native place. Morocco is not far behind either. In 2021, France returned more than 25,000 objects of archaeological significance – obtained after a series of raids on smugglers – to the African nation.
