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The British Museum is full of stolen artifacts

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Some of the world’s greatest cultural and historical treasures are housed in London’s British Museum, and a significant number of them were taken during Britain’s centuries-long imperial rule. In recent years, many of the countries missing their cultural heritage have been asking for some of these items back. Vox takes us along the museum’s "Don’t Miss" tour to see these stolen artifacts.


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To dig deeper into the 1897 Benin Punitive Expedition and the Benin Bronzes check out this book by Staffan Lunden and this article in the Journal of African History by Philip A. Igbafe.

For more information on the two Benin Bronzes returned by Mark Walker, check out this piece by The Guardian

Here are some links to learn more about the other contested items on the British Museum’s “Don’t Miss List” referenced in the video:

- Greece seeks return of Parthenon Marbles amid restoration project

- Egypt called; it wants its Rosetta Stone back

- Easter Islanders call for return of statue from British Museum

- Tajik leader wants treasure from British Museum

Lastly, here is an opinion piece by prominent lawyer Geoffrey Robertson arguing why the pieces should be returned

And here is another opinion piece by author Tiffany Jenkins arguing why the pieces should stay in Western museums

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