Bavarian authorities return priceless eighth century gold Sican mask to Peru

Germany has returned a pre-Columbian gold funerary mask to Peru following a 20-year legal and diplomatic battle, the South American country’s culture minister said on Thursday. Peru had reported the eighth century Sican mask’s disappearance in 1999, after which it was confiscated by Interpol from the German city of Wiesbaden. “I’m happy to receive one of the most emblematic assets from the north Peruvian cultures, the Sican Mask,” said Patricia Balbuena in a statement. The mask was handed over to the Peruvian embassy in Berlin by Bavarian authorities. The Munich regional court ordered the mask be returned to Peru in December 2016 after it had been confiscated by the public prosecutor. It is due to arrive in Peru in the coming weeks. Like neighboring Ecuador, which secured the return