Colombia Demands Return of 34 Ancient Sculptures from Berlin Museum

Colombia is demanding the return of 34 ancient stone sculptures from the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in Berlin, claiming they were illegally acquired by ethnologist Konrad Theodor Preuß around 1920. The sculptures, originating from the San Agustín Archaeological Park in southern Colombia, are considered sacred by the indigenous Yanakuna people, who believe their absence causes spiritual imbalance. The Colombian government submitted a repatriation request in 2021, but it was rejected in 2025 by SPK President Hermann Parzinger, who argued that the objects were not from a colonial context and that no living descendant community could claim them. Colombian activists and the 'Pueblo Escultor' initiative reject these arguments, noting that 14 additional undocumented artworks were discovered in Berlin's depots. The case remains under negotiation.