"The Embassy of Peru in Canada and the Consulate General in Toronto, in a joint action, have ended a virtual auction of twenty pre-Hispanic Chancay-style cultural properties that are part of Peru's cultural heritage," the statement said.
"The Canadian auction company Waddington's, headquartered in Toronto, offered on its website +The Saleroom+, pieces that have been identified by the Ministry of Culture," the ministry added.
Among the items offered for sale was a seed necklace.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that it is taking the necessary measures to ensure that these pieces are returned to Peru.
The Chancay civilization developed in the valleys of Fortaleza, Pativilca, Supe, Huaura, Chancay, Chillon, Rímac y Lurin, on the central coast of Peru, between 1200 and 1470.
Peru and Canada are signatories to the UNESCO Convention, signed in Paris in 1970, which promotes the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property worldwide.
© 2023 AFP