Southern Alberta man returns ancient artefact to Costa Rica

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In February, a man from southern Alberta flew to South America and returned to his family who had talented decades ago.

Dan McDougall from Okotoks, Alta said the Emerald Amulet in Costa Rica has been with them for over 50 years.

“In 1971, my parents sponsored an exchange student from Costa Rica,” McDougall explained. “His father was impressed by some of the things he had to do and he gave my father to my father to thank you.”

In 1971, Costa Rica exchange photos of students in Costa Rica in Sherwood Park.

Don McDougall

McDougall described his late father as a rock hound, and he took the opportunity to take his family all over Western Canada in search of fossils, agate and petrochemical wood.

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McDougall said he began to think about amulets again after his mother died.

“I was browsing my father’s rock collection and of course I came across artifacts,” McDougall said. “We knew (it) was always there, but that led me to do some research.”

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This study led him to find that this small jade harness is likely to be used in ritual funerals, and may have been more than a thousand years.

“It might be 1,500 years old,” McDougall said. “So I didn’t think this thing belonged here at that time.”

Comparison of sizes of the amulets given to the McDouge family.

Don McDougall

McDougall said he sent an email to the museum in Costa Rica and received a response from a representative of the National Museum of Costa Rica in San Jose; their email said they were happy to study Costa Rica’s history.

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On February 4, McDougall flew to San Jose, where he was escorted by archaeologists and police officers. Archaeologists have verified the authenticity of the artifacts and told McDougall that it may be between 1,300 and 2,500 years old.

“Then we did the formal transfer and I had to sign some documents, etc.” “They were very interested in how I got the artifacts in the first place.”

Don McDougall met with the Costa Rican authorities when he arrived in San Jose.

Don McDougall

Michael Blake, an emeritus professor at the University of British Columbia, told Global News that what McDougall did is a great example.

“That’s great,” Blake explained. “A good example of how people respect the source of these objects.”

Samples of other Costa Rican artifacts from the National Museum of Costa Rica.

Don McDougall

McDougall told Global News that a new exhibition is being created at the National Museum of Costa Rica, in which the jade harness will be displayed as one of many other items sent back to Costa Rica over the years.

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McDougall and his wife are still deciding whether they will return to Costa Rica when the exhibition opens.


& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.



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