A Yale University delegation will travel to Peru this weekend to discuss the return of thousands of archaeological artefacts found in Machu Picchu a century ago, President Alan Garcia said Thursday.
Peruvian authorities have been locked in a seven-year battle with Yale over the artefacts, which included ceramics, ornaments and bones that US explorer Hiram Bingham brought to Yale between 1912 and 1916 on loan from Peru, but never returned.
Peru claims the university has some 46,000 items, but Yale says there are only 5500, of which 330 are museum quality.
The university has argued it has legal possession of the artefacts.
Early this month, Garcia asked President Barack Obama to help Peru recover the archaeological pieces.
Last week, Culture Minister Juan Ossio said Yale and the Peruvian government were negotiating an agreement for the artefacts' return.
"I think management of this issue is well underway and we will soon have positive news," he said.
In 2007, Peru filed a lawsuit against Yale in a Connecticut court and the Garcia government encouraged street protests in Peru to press its claims.
Machu Picchu, declared a World Heritage by UNESCO, stands on the eastern slopes of the Andes, some 2430 metres above sea level.
The sanctuary is considered a symbol of the height of the Inca Empire.
Source: AFP [November 19, 2010]
