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Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology

The Pre-Columbian Monumental and Architectural Sculpture and Murals Statute was written in 1972, and implemented by US Customs in 1973. It restricts importation of all Pre-Columbian goods in the U.S., with the exception of the pieces of those countries which have signed bilateral trade agreements with the government. An export certificate is required from the country of origin is necessary to import any pre-Columbian monumental sculpture or murals, and cultural property originally from Mexico. This includes all stone carving or wall art which is the product of the Pre-Columbian culture of

• Bolivia
• British Honduras
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Mexico
• Panama
• Peru
• Venezuela

which includes

1. immobile stone monuments
2. altars
3. architectural structures
4. masks of architectural or ritual derivation
5. decorated capstones
6. decorative beams of wood
7. frescoes
8. friezes
9. glyphs
10. graffiti
11. mosaics
12. moldings
13. any other carving or decoration which 'had been part of or affixed to any immobile monument or architectural structure, including cave paintings or designs'

Peru dispute has long, murky past