The return coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Mexico.

Three cultural objects from Mexico—a ceramic whistle, a ceramic bowl, and 2 green plaques resembling ears.

A ceremony was held at the Embassy of Mexico in Canberra on 13 March to formally return culturally significant objects to their rightful home.

The objects were detected by the Australian Border Force on their import into Australia in 2023. They were later confirmed to have been illegally exported from Mexico, where they are classified as archaeological monuments.

The returned objects are:

  • Pair of ear-shaped plaques (1500–400 BCE): Made in Mexico during the Olmec civilisation, these plaques were crafted from metamorphic rock (jadeite or serpentinite) and likely formed part of an anthropomorphic mask.
  • Bowl (100–500 CE): From the Zacatecas region of Mexico, this painted ceramic bowl is associated with a funerary tradition known as tumbas de tiro (shaft tombs). Tumbas de tiro consist of deep shafts connecting to underground chambers containing multiple burials and ceramic offerings, which symbolised the return to the maternal womb.
  • Whistle (1200–1521 CE): Created in Mexico during the Aztec Empire, this ceramic whistle represents a skull and was likely an instrument used in ceremonies.

The return of these and other protected foreign cultural objects is made possible through the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (the Act).

The Act regulates the export of objects of cultural significance to Australia, and provides for the return of foreign cultural objects that have been illegally exported from other countries.