Mexico demands return of 195 pre-Hispanic artifacts sold through eBay and auctions

Mexico’s government is demanding the return of 195 pre-Hispanic artifacts that were listed for sale on eBay by a user in Orlando, Florida. The Secretariat of Culture and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have declared the items part of Mexico’s cultural heritage and illegal to sell, prompting Mexico to initiate legal proceedings to halt the auction and secure repatriation, according to reports from El Financiero and Lopez Doriga Digital.

In parallel, Mexico has also targeted a French auction house, Casa Millon, for selling Mexican archaeological artifacts despite the country's protests. Casa Millon held a recent auction with 40 culturally significant pieces priced from 450 euros, which Mexico claims were illicitly removed from the country, as detailed by Expansion MX and Aristegui Noticias.

Mexico has formally demanded the suspension of Casa Millon's upcoming live auction titled "Les Empires de Lumière," scheduled for February 27 in Paris. The government cites the sale of national heritage objects and reiterates its stance against the international commercialization of its archaeological treasures, according to Aristegui Noticias.

The Mexican government’s dual legal and diplomatic efforts against these sales illustrate an ongoing campaign to prevent the dispersion of its cultural patrimony. Observers will be watching how authorities in the U.S. and France respond to Mexico’s repatriation claims and whether these cases prompt stronger international protections for cultural artifacts in the future.