Mexico repatriates pre-Hispanic gold bracelet from the US

Mexico has successfully repatriated a pre-Hispanic gold bracelet from the United States. The artifact was voluntarily surrendered by a private individual at the Consulate General of Mexico in New York.

The piece, which features a spider monkey profile and two rosette-like conical peaks, is believed to be of Zapotec origin from the Late Postclassic period (1200–1521 AD). It was crafted using lost-wax casting and filigree techniques with an alloy of gold, silver, and copper.

Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) are investigating whether the bracelet belongs to the ‘Joyas del Pescador’ (Fisherman’s Jewels) collection. This collection consists of gold pieces discovered approximately 50 years ago by a fisherman in Veracruz. Preliminary technical analyses show stylistic similarities to existing pieces from that collection currently held at the Fuerte de San Juan de Ulúa Museum.