Coalición Floresta · Forest & Environmental Law Library

Archaeological Heritage Law 6703Ley de Patrimonio Arqueológico 6703

Protects pre-Columbian archaeological sites — including the UNESCO-recognized stone spheres of the Diquís — as state property regardless of land ownership.

Protege sitios arqueológicos precolombinos —incluyendo las esferas de piedra del Diquís reconocidas por UNESCO— como propiedad estatal independientemente de la titularidad del terreno.

20 documents in this topic.

law (8)

Ley 105682024
Law for the Effective Protection of Undiscovered Cultural Objects
Ley para la tutela efectiva de los objetos culturales no descubiertos
This law amends the National Archaeological Heritage Law (Law 6703) to enhance protection of undiscovered cultural objects, whether underground or underwater. It integrates these goods into the national archaeological heritage, declares void any transfer of illegally held objects, and mandates restitution to the State for illicitly excavated or retained…
Ley 75261995
1970 UNESCO Convention on Cultural Property
Convención UNESCO 1970 sobre Bienes Culturales
This law approves Costa Rica's accession to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property. The Convention defines cultural property, recognizes that illicit trafficking impoverishes the cultural heritage of countries of origin, and requires States Parties to…
Ley 67031981
National Archaeological Heritage Law
Ley sobre Patrimonio Nacional Arqueológico
This law declares that all movable and immovable archaeological objects produced by indigenous cultures prior to or contemporary with the Hispanic period, as well as associated human remains, flora and fauna, are national archaeological heritage. It establishes that all such objects discovered after its enactment are State property, and creates a National…
Ley 6360-A1979
Convention on the Defense of the Archaeological, Artistic, and Historical Heritage of the American Nations
Convención Defensa Patrimonio Arqueológico Artístico Naciones Americanas
The Convention, adopted within the OAS framework, aims at the identification, registration, protection, and vigilance of the cultural heritage of the American nations, in order to prevent the illicit export or import of cultural property and to promote cooperation among states for mutual knowledge and appreciation of such property. It defines the…
Ley 63601979
Convention on the Defense of the Archaeological, Historical, and Artistic Heritage of the American Nations
Convención sobre Defensa del Patrimonio Arqueológico, Histórico y Artístico de las Naciones Americanas
It is a Costa Rican law ratifying the Convention of San Salvador (1976). It establishes Costa Rica's obligation, along with other American states, to identify, register, protect and safeguard the assets that make up its archaeological, historical and artistic cultural heritage. The Convention prohibits the illicit export and import of these goods and…
Ley 59801976
World Heritage Convention
Convención para la Protección del Patrimonio Mundial, Cultural y Natural
This law ratifies the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted by UNESCO. It outlines the duties of State Parties to identify, protect, conserve, rehabilitate, and transmit cultural and natural heritage within their territory to future generations. It defines 'cultural heritage' (monuments, groups of…
Ley 5980-A1976
World Heritage Convention
Convención del Patrimonio Mundial
The Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO, 1972), adopted by Costa Rica through Law 5980-A, establishes the international framework to identify, protect, conserve, rehabilitate and transmit to future generations cultural and natural properties of outstanding universal value. It defines “cultural heritage”…
Ley 47111971
Approval of the Recommendation on the Conservation of Cultural Property Endangered by Public or Private Works
Aprobación de la Recomendación sobre la Conservación de los Bienes Culturales que la Ejecución de Obras Públicas o Privadas pueda poner en Peligro
Law 4711 fully approves the 1968 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the preservation of cultural property endangered by public or private works. The Recommendation urges States to adopt legislative, financial, administrative, and technical measures to protect cultural heritage—including archaeological sites, monuments, traditional ensembles, and movable…

executive decree (3)

Decreto 448192024
Creation of the Agua Caliente Archaeological Park in Cartago
Creación del Parque Arqueológico Agua Caliente de Cartago
This Executive Decree establishes the Agua Caliente Archaeological Park in Cartago as a program of the National Museum of Costa Rica, jointly developed with the Municipality of Cartago. The park is conceived as a space for the development of the Cartago canton, based on integrated management of archaeological and natural heritage with citizen…
Decreto 365742011
Public Interest Declaration Santa Elena Peninsula
Declaratoria de interés público Península Santa Elena
Executive Decree 36574-MINAET (March 31, 2011) declares activities aimed at research, conservation, and dissemination concerning the Santa Elena Peninsula in Guanacaste to be of public interest. The peninsula lies within the Guanacaste Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, and possesses exceptional geological value: it is one of the…
Decreto 281741999
Regulation on Requirements and Procedures for Archaeological Studies
Reglamento de Requisitos y Trámites para Estudios Arqueológicos
Executive Decree 28174-MP-C-MINAE-MEIC establishes the requirements and procedures for conducting archaeological studies in Costa Rica. It repeals all previous regulations inconsistent with its provisions and aims to harmonize the protection of archaeological heritage with economic development, pursuant to the National Archaeological Heritage Law (Law…

constitutional decision (2)

Res. 01622-2022 Sala Constitucional2022 · Sala Constitucional
Annulment of the national convenience declaration for the El Diquís Hydroelectric Project due to omission of socio-environmental studies and non-compliance with ILO Convention 169
Anulación de la declaratoria de conveniencia nacional del Proyecto Hidroeléctrico El Diquís por omisión de estudios socioambientales e incumplimiento del Convenio 169 de la OIT
The Constitutional Chamber partially granted an unconstitutionality action against Executive Decree No. 34312-MP-MINAE, which declared the El Diquís Hydroelectric Project to be of national convenience. The Court annulled the decree as unconstitutional after confirming—based on the Minister of Environment's own report—that the Executive Branch failed to…
Res. 05245-2002 Sala Constitucional2002 · Sala Constitucional
Partial Unconstitutionality of the Archaeological Studies Regulation
Inconstitucionalidad parcial del Reglamento de Estudios Arqueológicos
The Constitutional Chamber partially grants an unconstitutionality action against Executive Decree 28174-MP-MINAE-MEIC, which regulated procedures for archaeological studies in Costa Rica. The Chamber annuls provisions that excluded entire historical periods (1500 B.C. to 1450 A.D. and prior to 10,000 B.C.) from protection, established a positive silence…

dictamen (2)

C-312-20082008
Authority to hire a foreign lawyer and recover pre-Columbian artifacts
Competencia para contratar abogado en el exterior y recuperar bienes precolombinos
The Attorney General's Office responds to the National Museum regarding which body is competent to hire a lawyer abroad to assist in recovering illegally exported pre-Columbian archaeological objects. It analyzes the National Archaeological Heritage Law No. 6703, which declares archaeological property to be public domain and requires diplomatic channels…
C-210-20012001
Exclusive competence of the National Museum for archaeological rescue
Competencia exclusiva del Museo Nacional para el rescate arqueológico
The Attorney General's Office interprets Article 13 of the Archaeological Heritage Law (No. 6703) and concludes that archaeological rescue —whether sudden or planned— is a single, indivisible function exclusive to the National Museum. Private foundations or independent consultants may not unilaterally carry out rescue activities. The doctrinal distinction…

court decision (1)

Res. 00045-2025 Tribunal de Apelación de Sentencia Penal de Cartago2025 · Tribunal de Apelación de Sentencia Penal de Cartago
Acquittal for usurpation and damage to Térraba archaeological monument
Absolución por usurpación y daño a monumento arqueológico Térraba
The Cartago Criminal Appeals Court upheld the acquittal of two defendants charged with usurpation and violation of the National Archaeological Heritage Law to the detriment of the Térraba indigenous territory. The trial court acquitted because the clandestine nature of the disturbance of possession was not proven; the female defendant had lived there for…

municipal regulation (1)

Reglamento municipal 130-D2025
Regulation for the Protection and Conservation of the Architectural and Cultural Heritage of Oreamuno
Reglamento de protección y conservación del patrimonio arquitectónico y cultural del cantón de Oreamuno
This regulation, part of the Oreamuno Urban Regulatory Plan, establishes the basis for protecting and conserving the canton's architectural and cultural heritage, in accordance with Law 7555. It defines declared heritage properties, criteria for interventions (restoration, adaptation), and coordination with the Cultural Heritage Research and Conservation…

legal opinion (3)

OJ-092-20162016
Constitutionality of Ecuador Cooperation Agreement on Cultural Property Protection
Adecuación constitucional del Convenio con Ecuador sobre protección de bienes culturales
The Attorney General's Office issues a non-binding legal opinion on the bill to approve the Cooperation Agreement between Costa Rica and Ecuador for the protection, conservation, recovery and restitution of cultural heritage property that has been stolen, looted, or illicitly trafficked. The opinion concludes that the agreement aligns with Article 89 of…
OJ-075-20112011
UNESCO Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage — constitutionality of approval bill
Convención UNESCO sobre patrimonio cultural subacuático — constitucionalidad del proyecto de aprobación
The Office of the Attorney General of Costa Rica, at the request of the Legislative Assembly, reviews the bill to approve the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (legislative file 17.260). After a detailed analysis of the legal framework governing cultural heritage—including Articles 89 and 50 of the Constitution,…
OJ-033-20032003
Temporary loan of archaeological and collection items by the National Museum
Préstamo temporal de bienes arqueológicos y colecciones del Museo Nacional
The Attorney General's Office analyzes whether Costa Rica's National Museum may temporarily loan items from its collections (archaeological, historical, natural specimens) and facilities. Under the principle of legality and the State's instrumental contracting power, the Museum may do so provided the loans align with its public purposes of study,…