Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Page updated at 02:10 PM

US officials to return seized artifacts to Ecuador

U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities have seized four pre-Columbian artifacts originally from Ecuador and returned them to the government of the South American nation.

MIAMI —

U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities have seized four pre-Columbian artifacts originally from Ecuador and returned them to the government of the South American nation.

A ceramic bowl and vessel, a stone ax and a stone ball used as a fishing weight were discovered by a Customs and Border Protection officer at Miami International Airport in February 2006. They were handed over to Ecuadorean officials Tuesday.

Officials said the return was delayed by requirements such as having experts examine the materials.

Authorities say the ceramic pieces were made between 900 B.C. and 300 B.C. and the stone artifacts between 500 A.D. and 1550 A.D.

They were in the luggage of a person traveling from Quito, Ecuador to Miami. The person was not charged.

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