Peru finally recovers pre-Columbian gold mask from Germany

After 20 years of court proceedings, Peru’s Culture Ministry announced this weekend that it had gotten back an ancient funeral mask from Germany. The Mask of Sicán belonged to the Lambayeque culture and is thought to be nearly 1,000 years old. It was used in burial and funeral processions by the Lambayeque (Sicán). Versions of the mask have been found in tombs of high status individuals. According to the Culture Ministry, the mask portrays the face of Naylamp, who was an important, god-like figure to that ancient culture.

When Peru reported the mask missing, it was confiscated by Interpol in 1999. Germany and Peru were then involved in judicial hearings for two decades. A court in the European nation ruled to have it returned in 2016.