Editing British Museum (section)

==== List of contested artefacts ====
* [[Elgin Marbles]] – claimed by Greece and backed by [[UNESCO]] among others for restitution<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parthenonuk.com/article.php?id=79|title=Breal's Silver Cup to be displayed at the New Acropolis Museum for one-year period from September 2012|work=BCRPM|access-date=10 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070727185209/http://www.parthenonuk.com/article.php?id=79|archive-date=27 July 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author1=Linda Theodorou |title=Greece (Cadogan Country Guides) |author2=Dana Facaros |publisher=Cadogan Guides |year=2003 |isbn=1-86011-898-4 |page=55}}</ref>
* [[Benin Bronzes]] – claimed by Nigeria; the Nigerian government has passed a resolution demanding the return of all 700 bronze pieces.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,,675202,00.html| work=The Guardian| location=London| title=British Museum sold precious bronzes| first=Maev| last=Kennedy| date=28 March 2002| access-date=27 April 2010| archive-date=15 March 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315094931/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/mar/28/education.museums| url-status=live}}</ref> 30 pieces of the bronzes were sold by the British Museum privately from the 1950s until 1972, mostly back to the Nigerians.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1896535.stm |title=Benin bronzes sold to Nigeria |work=BBC |date=27 March 2002 |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-date=5 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805093449/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1896535.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Rosetta Stone]] – claimed by Egypt<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3084215.stm| work=BBC News| title=Egypt calls for return of Rosetta Stone| date=21 July 2003| access-date=27 April 2010| archive-date=11 January 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111114454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3084215.stm| url-status=live}}</ref>
* Ethiopian [[Tabot]]s, Pre-[[Kingdom of Aksum|Axumite]] Civilisation Coins – claimed by Ethiopia<ref name="IndieNov2008">{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Andrew|title=Ethiopia demands stolen crown back|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/ethiopia-demands-stolen-crown-back-1031229.html|access-date=24 August 2016|work=Independent|date=23 November 2008|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816115939/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/ethiopia-demands-stolen-crown-back-1031229.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hoffman2006">{{cite book|last1=Hoffman|first1=Barbara T.|title=Art and Cultural Heritage: Law, Policy and Practice|date=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521857642|page=5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yvXTcGC5CwQC&q=magdala+loot&pg=PA5|access-date=9 November 2020|archive-date=15 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315094941/https://books.google.com/books?id=yvXTcGC5CwQC&q=magdala+loot&pg=PA5|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Amba Mariam|Maqdala]] Collection, various religious and artistic objects, claimed by Ethiopia<ref>{{Cite news |title=Maqdala collection |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/maqdala-collection |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517150606/https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/maqdala-collection |archive-date=17 May 2024 |access-date=2025-01-01 |work=The British Museum |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-04 |title=V&A's Ethiopian treasures: A crown, a wedding dress and other loot |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43642265 |access-date=2025-01-01}}</ref>
* [[Asante people|Asante]] Gold Regalia, personal jewellery and royal insignia worn by the [[Asante Empire|Asante king/emperor]] – claimed by Ghana<ref>{{Cite news |title=Asante Gold Regalia |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/asante-gold-regalia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521125800/https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/asante-gold-regalia |archive-date=21 May 2024 |access-date=2025-01-01 |work=The British Museum |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-16 |title=Ghanaian ruler pushes British Museum to return gold |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65614490 |access-date=2025-01-01}}</ref>
* [[Oxus Treasure]] – in 2007 the President of Tajikistan ordered experts to look into making a claim for these [[Achaemenid Empire]] gold and silver artefacts.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2053344,00.html| work=The Guardian| location=London| title=Tajik president calls for return of treasure from British Museum| first=Luke| last=Harding| date=10 April 2007| access-date=27 April 2010| archive-date=16 February 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216201331/http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2053344,00.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Dunhuang manuscripts]], part of a cache of scrolls, manuscripts, paintings, scriptures, and relics from the [[Mogao Caves]], including the [[Diamond Sutra]] – claimed by the People's Republic of China<ref>{{cite journal| last=Larmer| first=Brook| title=Caves of Faith| pages=136–138| journal=[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]| date=June 2010| url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/06/dunhuang-caves/larmer-text| access-date=15 January 2015| archive-date=21 December 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221204159/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/06/dunhuang-caves/larmer-text| url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Aboriginal shield – claimed by [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal people of Australia]].<ref name=":12" />
* [[Hoa Hakananai'a]], a [[Moai]] – claimed by Chile on behalf of Easter Island/Rapa Nui<ref>{{cite news| url=https://hyperallergic.com/466966/easter-islanders-ask-british-museum-to-return-sacred-statue-offering-replica-in-return/| work=Hyperallergic| title=Easter Islanders Ask British Museum to Return Sacred Statue, Offering Replica in Return| date=23 October 2018| access-date=13 November 2018| archive-date=13 November 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113210834/https://hyperallergic.com/466966/easter-islanders-ask-british-museum-to-return-sacred-statue-offering-replica-in-return/| url-status=live}}</ref>
*Irish artefacts — the [[Bell Shrine of St. Cuileáin]], [[Londesborough Brooch]], [[sword]]s, half of the [[Dowris Hoard]], part of the [[Mooghaun North Hoard]], the [[Dunaverney flesh-hook]], the [[Kells Crozier]], [[torc]]s, four [[crucifixion plaque]]s, [[armlets]], [[Seal (emblem)|seals]], religious plaques, and [[ring (jewellery)|rings]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/kells-s-request-for-loan-of-its-treasures-strikes-snags-1.254971|title=Kells's request for loan of its treasures strikes snags|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/arts---entertainment/1530826/full-of-stolen-treasures-kneecap-mark-british-museum-with-stolen-from-ireland-stickers.html|title='Full of stolen treasures' - Kneecap mark British Museum with 'stolen from Ireland' stickers|date=16 June 2024|website=www.limerickleader.ie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/outdoors/arid-40943426.html|title=Islands of Ireland: Donegal's Inishkeel has murderous and murdered saints, blue seas, and ruined churches — but no bell|first=Dan|last=MacCarthy|date=26 August 2022|website=Irish Examiner}}</ref>
* [[Welsh artefacts in museums outside Wales|Welsh artefacts]] – the [[Mold gold cape]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 April 2022 |title=Mold Gold Cape: Artefact should be on display in Wales – academic |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-61082954 |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115193150/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-61082954 |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Rhos Rydd Shield]], the [[Moel Hebog shield]] and the [[Llanllyfni lunula]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2021 |title=Buried treasure: calls for important Welsh artefacts to be brought back home |url=https://nation.cymru/news/buried-treasure-calls-for-important-welsh-artefacts-to-be-brought-back-home/ |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=Nation.Cymru |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115180806/https://nation.cymru/news/buried-treasure-calls-for-important-welsh-artefacts-to-be-brought-back-home/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 April 2016 |title=Yn ôl i Gymru? |language=cy |work=BBC Cymru Fyw |url=https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/35919530 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116023105/https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/35919530 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Four stolen drawings ([[Nazi plunder]]) – Compensation paid to Uri Peled for the amount of £175,000 by the British Museum<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/art/getting+the+nazi+stolen+art+back/339147 |title=News – Getting the Nazi stolen art back |work=[[Channel 4 News]] |date=27 March 2007 |access-date=4 July 2010 |archive-date=6 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906072159/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/art/getting+the+nazi+stolen+art+back/339147 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Repatriation and reburial of human remains]] is a controversial issue, and the British Museum has issued a policy on the subject.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/departments/human-remains/human-remains-policy-and-governance|publisher=British Museum|title=The British Museum policy on human remains|access-date=6 May 2019|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727045004/https://www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/departments/human-remains/human-remains-policy-and-governance|url-status=live}}</ref>