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The Global Story

Stolen treasures: Scandal at the British Museum

May 27, 2024
BBC's Culture Editor Katie Razzall discusses the scandal at the British Museum where up to 1500 artefacts went missing, some allegedly stolen by an insider. The podcast explores the museum's integrity, ethical dilemmas of holding looted artifacts, and challenges in managing the collection. It also touches on Britain's right to possess treasures and the efforts to recover missing items.
23:46

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Quick takeaways

  • The British Museum faced a scandal with up to 1500 missing artifacts, including ancient gems alleged to be stolen by a museum insider and sold online, leading to FBI investigation and global recoveries.
  • Criticism towards the British Museum includes issues of cataloging lapses, storage challenges, and ethical concerns regarding maintaining and displaying colonial-era or wartime looted artifacts.

Deep dives

The British Museum Scandal

Up to 1500 artifacts, including ancient gems and jewelry, went missing from the British Museum, with some allegedly stolen by a museum insider and sold online. The FBI is investigating the suspected sale to US buyers, leading to artifacts being found in various global locations. Questions arise about the museum's ability to preserve historic objects and the legitimacy of retaining colonial-era or wartime looted artifacts.

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