[Aztlan] Cenote Sagrado collection to be given to Mexico?

[EJ Albright]

All,

In the Mexican and US press there have been stories about reported comments made by William Fash, director of the Peabody Museum, regarding return of the Cenote Sagrado collection. These were artifacts dredged by Edward H. Thompson a century ago and shipped to the Peabody.

According to the Mexican report, Fash made these comments at the recent Palenque Roundtable. Was anyone present at this event? Did he make these remarks in a public forum?

The Associated Press article (which you can read, at least for now, here: http://tinyurl.com/64ujwg ) says that Fash is considering return of carved jades, but the best of those were given to Mexico 30 or 40 years ago, so I believe the reporter is confused. The Mexican article is less clear about exactly what would be returned, and in it Fash suggests that instead of a simply turning over the collection, perhaps some formal agreement could be made between the Peabody and the Mexican government. The Mexican article can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/6q4s29

If anyone has more information about William Fash's comments, I would appreciate it.

Regards,

Evan J. Albright