What started as a casual thrift store find turned into a journey of cultural restitution for Anne Lee Dozier. She bought a $3.99 vase from the 2A Thrift Store in Clinton, Md., and later realized it was a 2,000-year-old Mayan artifact.
Discovering the Artifact
Five years ago, Dozier picked up the vase believing it to be a vintage tourist item. It looked old-ish, but I thought maybe 20, 30 years old and some kind of tourist reproduction thing so I brought it home
, she explained.
Visit to the Museum
In January 2024, Dozier visited the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico and saw artifacts similar to hers. Intrigued, she sent photos to a staff member who verified her vase belonged to the Indigenous Mayan people and was 2,000 years old.
Then, in January 2024, Dozier visited the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico and saw artifacts that looked a lot like hers, according to WUSA. She then sent photos of her vase to a museum staff member who verified her ceremonial urn belonged to the Indigenous Mayan people and was 2,000 years old.
The Return Process
Recognizing its cultural significance, Dozier decided to return the artifact. Mexican Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragan met with her and her boys for the handover.
Dozier shared: I am thrilled to have played a part in its repatriation story. I would like it to go back to its rightful place and to where it belongs. But I also want it out of my home because I have three little boys and I have been petrified… that after two-thousand years I would be the one to wreck it
.
Cultural Significance
This story shines a light on the importance of preserving and respecting cultural heritage. Each repatriation step underscores a commitment to history.
Dozier’s experience is a beautiful reminder that everyday objects can carry immense historical value and that individual actions can help honor heritage.
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