“We continue to undo the damage wrought by decades of well-organized antiquities smuggling networks throughout Italy. I am proud that we have successfully repatriated more than 200 antiquities to Italy since I took Office, but there is a lot more work to be done. We are going to continue to aggressively find, recover and return stolen artifacts from Italy in partnership with HSI, the Consul General’s Office and the Carabinieri,” said District Attorney Bragg. 

“This incredible, ancient piece is a rare window into the past of Olmec society,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Like many other looted antiquities, the Olmec Cave Mask was broken into several different pieces to make the smuggling process simpler. After being sent to different museums and private collections across the United States for nearly 60 years, the Cave Mask can finally return to sit with the rest of its companion monuments.”