Initially, Dozier thought the vase was old, perhaps by a few decades, but not ancient. As a human rights advocate working with Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and with experience among Indigenous communities in Mexico, she felt a connection to the vase, suspecting it might have origins in Mexico.

The period from which the vase originates is often regarded as the pinnacle of the Maya civilization, a society that experienced a decline due to various factors, including drought, internal strife, and the impact of European conquest.

The circumstances of how the vase came to rest at a Maryland thrift store are still a mystery. However, the recovery of the vase has been officially acknowledged by Mexico’s cultural institute in Washington DC.

Dozier, in an interview with the local CBS affiliate WUSA after the ceremony said, “I am thrilled to have played a part in its repatriation story. Giving it back feels so much better than it would if I put it [up for sale online] and I got a bunch of money.”