In a letter, delivered to the US Ambassador to Peru Rose M. Likins, President Garcia said that Obama's support was "fair and necessary" for Yale University to return the pieces removed from Machu Picchu.

According to the letter, Obama's support is necessary as the US government led by William Howarf Taft in those years, was the one that authorized Hiram Bingham's work in Peru. 

"Mr President and dear friend, 100 years have passed since then and despite the many requests made in several opportunities by different Peruvian governments, Yale University has not returned the artifacts removed from Machu  Picchu”, the letter says according to the Press Secretariat of the Republic Presidency.

President Garcia said this demand is different from others, as the artifacts removed from Machu Picchu are not any war loot.

The artifacts, including pottery, jewelry and bones, were sent out of the country after Bingham, a Yale alumnus, rediscovered the site in the Andes in 1911.

Peru's government says the objects were loaned to Yale for 18 months but never returned. At the time, the ancient city, now a tourist hot spot, was essentially forgotten, covered by thick forest in the mountains some 8,000 feet above sea level.

 
(END) CCR/LVT