In February, a man from southern Alberta flew to South America to return an ancient artifact whose family was talented decades ago.
Dan McDougal of Okotox, Alta, says that the jade of Costa Rica was with them for more than 50 years.
“In 1971, my mother was sponsored by a student of Costa Rica,” McDougal said. “His father was very admired by some things to do, my father sent this made of these parties as thanks to you.”
Photo of the Costa Rican exchange in Sherwood Park 1971.
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McDougal described his late father as rock rocks that seize any opportunity to transport the family throughout West Canada to search for fossils, columns and fossilized wood.
McDougal said that after the death of his mother, he began thinking about the amulet again.
McDougal said: “I was wandering in the Abi Rock group, and of course I encountered the ear.” “We have always known (was) there, but it caused me a little research.”
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This research led him to discover the small jade amulet that has been used for festive burial and could be more than a thousand years old.
“It can be 1500 years old,” said McDougal. “So at that time I decided that this thing does not belong here.”
Compare the size of the amulet granted to the McDougal family.
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McDougal said he had sent inquiries via email to museums in Costa Rica, and he was almost immediately a response from a representative with the National Museum of Costa Rica in San Jose; Their email said they are excited to study the history of Costa Rica.
On February 4, McDougal flew to San Jose, where he was met with an archaeologist and accompanying the police. The archaeologist has verified the validity of the coincidence and told McDougal that it may be anywhere from 1300 to 2500 years.
“Then we made the official transfer, I had to sign some documents, etc.” McDougal said. “They are very interested in how I can get a coincidence in the first place.”
Don McDougal meets the Costa Rica authorities upon his arrival in San Jose.
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Honorary professor at British Columbia University, Michael Blake Global News, told what McDougal did is an ideal example of what others should do.
“This is great,” Blake explained. “A great example of how people respect the culture of the place from which these things come.”
A sample of other artifacts in Costa Rica at the National Museum of Costa Rica.
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McDougal told Global News that the Costa Rica National Museum is creating a new exhibition in which the jade amulet is displayed as one of many other elements that have been returned to Costa Rica over the years.
McDougal and his wife still decide whether they would return to Costa Rica or not when the exhibition is opened.
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