The restitution of two Guanche mummies from Tenerife by Necochea (Argentina)

Two Guanche mummies from Tenerife along with a complete archaeological collection, were purchased by Argentinean businessmen at the end of the 19th century. The two mummies were kept at the Museo de Ciencias Naturales in the tourist city of Necochea (Buenos Aires Province) since the 1920’s. These specimens were restituted to the island of Tenerife (to the Museo Arqueológico de Tenerife, Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros of the Cabildo de Tenerife-the government of the island) in September 2003, following two years of negotiation between Spanish and Argentinean officials. The key part of the agreement was carried out by the President of the Organism along with the Canarian Institute of Bioanthropology and the Archaeological Museum, and the Municipality of Necochea and the National Government of Argentina. This paper deals with the story of the mummies and the steps followed by both parts to a successful restitution: indeed, an important development in the history of mummy studies and archaeology.