Archaeologists have been perplexed by an ancient “portal to the underworld” that has finally been examined, according to officials. The artifact, known as the Olmec Cave Mask, was originally stolen from the Chalcatzingo archaeological site in Mexico’s Central Highlands during the 1960s. The smugglers who took the millennia-old mask broke it into multiple pieces and dispersed them among various museums and private collections. However, in 2023, the full artifact was finally returned to Mexico. Crafted between 800 and 400 B.C., the mask is said to resemble the ancient Olmec jaguar god Tepēyōllōtl, according to an August 2023 press release from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Depicted as a feline with large oval eyes, flaring nostrils, and a gaping mouth, the Olmec Cave Mask symbolizes the passage to the afterworld and guarded the entrance to a ceremonial cave at the Chalcatzingo archaeological site.
In a press release from May 30, 2023, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Mexico announced that the examination of the Olmec Cave Mask was nearing completion. After years of research and restoration efforts, the artifact will soon return to its home in Jantetelco, Morelos. Historians have diligently cleaned the piece and removed dust to uncover its true beauty. The INAH noted that certain parts of the mask date back 2,700 years, while others are more recent. Some elements are original, while others, including a metal structure with bolts, cement reinforcements, and replacements of missing elements, were added for stability. X-rays revealed these alterations, though they were limited due to the stone’s composition.
The return of the Olmec Cave Mask was the culmination of a complex, multi-year investigation that involved collaboration between the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations-New York, and Mexican authorities. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. praised the artifact as a “rare window into the past of Olmec society.” The mask, like many other looted antiquities, had been divided into pieces to facilitate its illicit trade across the United States. With the artifact now back in Mexico, it can be reunited with other monuments from its time.
The Olmec Cave Mask’s journey from theft to recovery showcases the efforts of law enforcement and preservationists to protect cultural heritage. The artifact’s return marks a victory for Mexico and the global community, preserving a piece of history for future generations to study and admire. For more articles on lifestyle and culture, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.