Bolivia: 136 Valuable Archaeological Pieces Recovered in 2018

Bolivia recovered 136 pieces of historical heritage artifacts that were scattered across several countries, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Wilma Alanoca, reported, while taking stock of the country's cultural management activities carried out in 2018.

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Among the pieces is a mummy of an 8-year-old Inca girl, who is estimated to have lived near 1,500 AD, and her trousseau. Both archaeological records were brought to the United States in 1890 and remained at the University of Michigan.

In addition, 82 numismatic pieces and a ceremonial vase of the Molino pre-Inca culture were recovered in Argentina; two colonial paintings in the United States; two vessels of the ancient Mojocoya culture in Chile; 37 fossils of extinct arthropods of the trilobite type; 10 ceramics in Germany; and a another piece in the United Kingdom.

Alanoca also highlighted the seizure, in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz, of 70 works of art from the 17th to the 20th centuries, such as paintings, silverware, sculptures, altarpieces of temples and musical instruments, which were to be sold illegally outside of Bolivia.

"The University of Michigan (USA) will return a pre-Hispanic mummy to Bolivia."

Some 12,000 pieces of historical and artistic value were cataloged throughout the year, protecting them from being illegally removed from the country; while another 1,911 works of contemporary art were authorized to leave legally.

In 2018, Bolivia was recognized as South America's Best Green Destination by World Travel Awards, which is the travel industry's most prestigious international awards program.

The design of an underwater museum on Lake Titicaca, the passage of the Dakar rally through Bolivia, the promotion of the Oruro Carnival abroad and the opening of a new house dedicated to the Indigenous hero Tupac Katari were lauded as other achievements.

In addition, the 'Law to Promote National Cinema', as well as cultural bilateral agreements with Spain, Cuba, Costa Rica and China, were highlighted by Minister Alanoca as other relevant aspects of the 2018 Bolivian cultural management events.