Yale University has signed an agreement with the University of Cusco (UNSAAC) in Peru that should see its controversial collection of objects from Machu Picchu finally sent back to South America.

The Connecticut-based university announced last year that it had reached an agreement with the Peruvian government, which has long been demanding the return of objects excavated by Hiram Bingham in the early 1900s. Now the deal with UNSAAC firms up the details of this, including the establishment of a research centre and museum that will house the objects in question and some visiting Yale faculty.

“We are extremely pleased that the Peruvian government wished to house the collections in Cusco and have it available for future research and education in an academic home.” said Derek Briggs, director of the university’s Peabody Museum, in a statement.

“Our collaboration with the University of Cusco will provide the kind of enduring academic framework that Yale always envisioned for the objects, and it is the best outcome for all who have an interest in the history and future of Machu Picchu.”

Back in 2007 Yale announced it would return some 4,000 objects, which many in Peru consider were looted from their country. But rows over the details continued.

Now the end may be in sight, but could those involved not have agreed on a slightly snappier title for the new research centre than the UNSAAC-Yale International Center for the Study of Machu Picchu and Inca Culture in Cusco, Peru?

Image: photo of Machu Picchu by Martin St-Amant via Wikipedia under creative commons