In a significant step for cultural restitution, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has formally returned a collection of rare 15th-century gold funerary masks belonging to the Chimú culture. These artifacts, renowned for their intricate metalwork and almond-shaped eyes, were part of a larger hoard that had been held in private collections before being acquired by the museum several decades ago.
The repatriation ceremony, held on April 13, 2026, was attended by Peruvian Ministry of Culture officials who highlighted the importance of returning these sacred objects to their ancestral home in the Moche Valley. The masks are believed to have been looted from royal tombs in Chan Chan, the ancient capital of the Chimú Empire, and will now be housed in the Museo de la Nación in Lima.