Is there a conflict brewing between Colombia and Spain? It seemed that the two Hispanic nations will face a court battle as Colombia's Constitutional Court plans to file a petition demanding Spain to return the 122 pre-Colombian gold ornaments called the Quimbaya treasure.

The controversial collection was given by former Colombian President Carlos Holguin to Queen Maria Cristina of Spain in 1893. The gift was presented as a token of gratitude to the monarchy for its role in demarcating Colombia's border with Venezuela, US News noted.

Colombia's Ombudsman and Attorney General, however, hoped that the Quimbaya indigenous treasure will be returned to the nation. But its Constitutional Court does not believe that Spain will Spain to return the pre-Colombian artisans' collection, which currently belongs to the Museum of the Americas in Madrid, Spain.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry also stressed that there's no possible legal solution that will oblige Spain to return the Quimbaya collection, Latin Correspondent reported.

"There is no mechanism that allows Colombia unilaterally and coercively to force the Spanish state to return the pieces that are in Madrid," Deputy Foreign Minister Patti Londoño Jaramillo said, as per El Espectador.

Attorney Felipe Rincon Salgado, however, insisted that giving the treasure as a gift is a violation of Colombia's rights. He also claimed that his lawsuit was an act of "cultural and historical sovereignty."

"We should not be ashamed or shy in claiming our cultural, archaeological and historical heritage, Salgado said. "Peru, Mexico, Egypt and Spain itself have done it, it is a clear theme of identity. We believe that the Kingdom of Spain will return it as it is consent that it is morally the Quimbaya treasure belongs to Colombian heritage."

Aside from Salgado, several Colombians consider Holguin's action as national patrimony and are demanding its repatriation under international conventions.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time the Quimbaya treasure has been the focal point of legal debate. As a matter of fact, Colombian legal experts have debated for more than 10 years whether the ancient artifacts should be repatriated.

In 2006, the Quimbaya case concluded with a ruling that the gift violated the constitutional protections of cultural patrimony in Colombia. The current case, on the other hand, has been before the Constitutional Court since 2012.

The Quimbaya civilization was first recorded as early as the 1st century BCE in parts of the Eje Cafetero and Valle del Cauca. According to The City Paper, the earliest Quimbaya were noted for their extraordinary skill in gold working.

Unfortunately, the Quimbaya disappeared as a distinct civilization by the 18th century as a result of Spanish colonization and other factors.

The illegal transport of archeological goods and artifacts has become increasingly popular as private owners and museums looked to increase their collections. Thus, Colombia recently launched a customs-based campaign thwarting the illegal trafficking of items belonging to the nation's national heritage.

In line with the Quimbaya treasure case, Spain's culture ministry and the museum have yet to comment on the issue.