Santa Ana Pueblo investigates recovery of stolen cultural items

Santa Ana Pueblo is working to recover nearly 150 cultural items stolen during burglaries in the 1980s, including a century-old bowl used for breadmaking, according to the Associated Press. Federal authorities prosecuted those responsible decades ago, but many of the items were never returned. Pueblo leaders and preservation experts are now tracing artifacts through auction catalogs, sales ledgers and online postings.

Pueblo Gov. Myron Armijo said the thefts “really hurt the pueblo,” noting items such as war shields, drums and pottery were taken. One bowl was recently returned after researchers tracked it through gallery records. Investigators are also searching for a buffalo hide war shield misidentified as coming from another pueblo. “We’re not giving up,” Armijo said.