Aztec, Mayan artifacts reported missing
Pottery, valued at about $267,700, stolen from library

By Ram Luthra
Staff Reporter

More than 110 Peruvian, pre-Columbian pottery artifacts, valued at about $267,700, were reportedly stolen from a basement storage room in the Mary Couts Burnett Library.

The pottery artifacts are from the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, dating back 2,700 years. They were reported as missing to the TCU Police Feb. 23. However, the TCU incident report cited that the items were last seen Feb. 1, 2000.

Special to the Skiff Artifacts stolen from Mary Couts Burnett Library were donated to TCU by the Moorehead Collection in three different donations in 1996 and 1997. Not all the artifacts were taken from the storage room, but several that remained were damaged.

Robert Seal, head university librarian, said the room where the artifacts were stored was locked. He said he does not know how someone got into the room, but noted that there was no forced breakin.

There was no scheduled inventory check-up on the stored items, but rather, they are checked randomly, he said.

TCU Police Chief Steve McGee said there have been no solid suspects linked to the case.

According to the incident report, the pottery pieces were individually wrapped in bubble plastic and placed into cardboard boxes to be stored in the basement. While the artifacts were taken from the storage room, the plastic covers and boxes were left behind, said Kelly Ham, TCU detective of criminal investigations. Each artifact was numbered with a four-digit museum catalog number.

The artifacts were donated to TCU by the Moorehead Collection in three different donations in 1996 and 1997. The approximate value of the items stolen are based on 1996 appraisal values. The current value of these artifacts may be significantly higher from the appraised value.

McGee said not all the artifacts were taken from the storage room, but several that remained were damaged. McGee said the artifacts have since been moved from the storage room.

“It cannot be determined if the artifact pieces were taken incrementally or if they were taken all at once,” McGee said.

Seal said the artifacts were reported missing after Thomas Guderjan, anthropology professor, noticed they were tampered with.

aculty and students can use the artifacts after obtaining permission from the library, Seal said.

“The pottery artifacts have been in storage for a couple of years now, after being on display for a year,” Seal said. “Even if they are in storage, they are still used on and off by students and faculty members.”

McGee said the investigation to find the missing artifacts has been difficult because of the large time period between when they were reported missing and when they were seen last.

“We have an ongoing investigation in progress, and are looking for any and all leads in this case,” McGee said.

Ram Luthra
r.d.luthra@student.tcu.edu