Following on from my entry of a couple of days ago where a Manchester museum was returning some Aboriginal skulls to Australia, I see that The Natural History Museum in London is facing possible court action if it doesn't return some Aboriginal human remains it has in its possession. The museum is resisting even though there is an agreement between the governments of both countries to encourage the repatriation of Aboriginal body parts held in the UK.
If you don't already know it, and this problem aside, The Natural History Museum is one of the coolest museums in London. Definitely worth a visit if you're in town.
Posted by Joe at July 31, 2003 08:54 AMIt's such a shame that people get so wound up about dead people's bits. Especially dead people they don't even know. Oh well, people's beliefs are their beliefs, hey?
And poor British museums - such wonderful places that take pretty good care of the antiquities in their care. Now it looks like the British Museum is facing calls for the Rosetta Stone to go back to Egypt as well (can't find the article, but read this yesterday).
Better go see stuff while we can!
Posted by: Lisa at July 31, 2003 05:49 PMI heard on TV here that the Aborigines are faring worse than any other minority group in the "developed" world. Just for that alone, I'm willing to humour their little foibles. ;+)
I'd also only be willing to give back antiquities if the country in question can handle (i.e. preserve) them properly. Not sure Egypt falls into that category just yet though.
Posted by: Joe at July 31, 2003 06:56 PM