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Belgium to return fossil to Brazil

Pterosaur skull to be exposed in Earth Sciences Museum in Rio

Pedro Peduzzi - Repórter da Agência Brasil

Published on 02/02/2022 - 13:20

Brasília

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Tuesday (Jan. 1) the beginning of the repatriating process of the pterosaur skull fossil that was in Belgium, provisionally under the care of the Belgian Royal Institute of Natural Sciences.

The fossil’s origin is Araripe Basin, in the state of Ceará, and is protected by the Mining Code and the Convention of the United Nations for Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) on Measures to Prohibit and Prevent Import, Export and Transfer of Illegal Property of Cultural Goods.

According to the note, this “important Brazilian archaeological heritage” shall be exposed at the Earth Sciences Museum, in Rio de Janeiro.

Negotiations for the return of the reptile fossil were carried out with the help of the Brazilian Embassy in Brussels and the Brazilian public company Serviço Geológico do Brasil, linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy.