Mexico’s culture ministry urges eBay to halt sales of pre-Hispanic artefacts

Mexico’s Ministry of Culture urged eBay to halt the sale of 195 pre-Hispanic archaeological objects that it says are illegally being offered by a U.S.-based seller, according to The Art Newspaper. Culture secretary Claudia Curiel de Icaza said experts at Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) reviewed listings tied to the eBay account “Coins Artifacts,” based in Orlando, Florida, and determined the items are part of Mexico’s cultural heritage; she added that export has been prohibited since 1827. INAH confirmed it filed a complaint with Mexico’s Attorney General and notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interpol, and U.S. authorities including Homeland Security Investigations to stop the sales and pursue repatriation. The seller, who identified himself only as “Tom,” said he was unaware of the case and claimed the objects came from a Nevada private collection with provenance linked to David Harner and the Manhattan gallery Arte Primitivo; the specific objects under investigation have not been publicly detailed.

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