For Immediate Release
March 11, 2005

El Salvador's Cultural Heritage Protected
Fact of the Day

The United States and El Salvador exchanged diplomatic notes extending a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) imposing U.S. import restrictions on Pre-Columbian archaeological objects originating in El Salvador. Archaeological sites dating from 1700 B.C. to 1550 A.D. throughout El Salvador have been severely damaged by looting. The MOU is in response from an El Salvadorian request for U.S. assistance in curbing pillaging and illicit trade in objects that represent its Pre-Columbian heritage. The newly amended MOU sets out new benchmarks for achieving improvements in the protection and preservation of El Salvador's cultural heritage and will expired in 2010.

Source: U.S. Department of Statetehouse.gov