A headdress said to be from the last
great Aztec emperor could temporarily go back to Mexico from Austria after the
Mexico senate changed its rules.
The headdress is believed to be a gift from Montezuma to 16th Century Spanish
conquistador Hernan Cortes.
It is made of quetzal and other feathers mounted on a base of gold studded
with precious stones.
Mexico usually sees pre-Conquest relics as national property, and if returned
must stay in the country.
After agreeing to the change of rules the headdress could be returned on an
extended loan from the museum in Vienna where it is currently on display.
The amendments approved by the senate would allow for temporary loans, while
acknowledging Austria's ownership rights.
Fragile
feathers
It is thought Cortes sent it to the Spanish king in Europe. It is unclear how
it ended up in Austria, although the king was a member of the Austrian Hapsburg
family.
Details of the loan need to be worked out, including how the fragile
headdress - which is more than a metre wide - will be protected during
transit.
Mexico has tried to get the headdress returned for many years, at one point
appealing to the UN.
Some Austrian experts say the feather-work crown did not belong to Montezuma
but was an ornament used by priests, although they do acknowledge the
headdress's significance in Mexican culture.