Repatriation of Sacred Human Relics to Vanuatu
After an eight-year FBI investigation, five crates of human relics, including skulls and effigies, were repatriated to Vanuatu from New York. The items were stolen from a sacred men's house in a bush village and seized from the estate of a deceased New York collector. The return of the items posed a logistical challenge due to their fragility. The effigies hold great cultural and historical significance to the Vanuatu people.
Key Points
- Eight-year FBI investigation
- Effigies stolen from sacred men's house in Vanuatu
- Logistical challenge due to fragility of effigies
- Effigies hold great cultural significance to Vanuatu people
Pros
- Preservation of cultural heritage
- Respect for sacred artifacts
Cons
- Trafficking and collection of human remains
- Loss of cultural identity due to theft