Over 150 Maya Artefacts Return to Belize After U.S. Exhibition Tour

More than 150 priceless Maya artefacts are back on Belizean soil after spending over a decade on display across the United States as part of the acclaimed travelling exhibition Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed.

The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) announced the safe repatriation of the collection, which was on loan to the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) since the exhibit’s launch in 2012. The partnership between NICH and SMM allowed millions of visitors in cities like Minnesota, Denver, Boston, San Diego, and others to experience the rich cultural heritage of the ancient Maya civilisation.

The returned artefacts include ceramic vessels, jade ornaments, stone tools, and ritual objects, each offering unique insights into Belize’s ancestral past. Now safely back in the country, the collection has been entrusted to the Institute of Archaeology under NICH, where it will continue to be conserved, studied, and protected as part of Belize’s national patrimony.

NICH described the return as a major milestone in international museum collaboration and a testament to a shared commitment to preserving and promoting Belize’s cultural legacy.

“We express our deep appreciation to the Science Museum of Minnesota and all partner institutions for their stewardship of the collection and for helping bring global attention to Belize’s archaeological heritage,” NICH said in its statement.