Celtics Call For Return Of Artefacts

The New Zealand Herald ^ | 8-29-2002 | Paul Kelbie

[blam]

Celts call for return of artefacts

29.08.2002
By PAUL KELBIE in London

A cultural coalition representing six "Celtic" nations are to press the British Government for the return of historically important artefacts held in some of the country's most prestigious academic collections.

The Celtic League, an independent pressure group representing the indigenous people of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Brittany, Isle of Man and Cornwall, is calling for an audit of museum collections around the UK and the return of Celtic exhibits to their "rightful" homes.

Among hundreds of items are the ancient Lewis Chessmen, which were taken from Scotland to the British Museum in London.

The chess pieces, made in Scandinavia and brought to the western isles by Vikings more than 1000 years ago, lay in the sand until they were discovered by accident in 1831.

The league, which campaigns on cultural and political issues, would also like to see the return of the world famous Gold Cape of Mold to Wales, a priceless Bronze Age 23-carat religious garment discovered in North Wales in 1833, and the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles, a 13th-century manuscript regarded as the first known recorded history of the island.

"There are artefacts in British institutions which have been removed from all the Celtic countries, and sent to collections in London, which we want back," said Bernard Moffatt, general secretary of the Celtic League.

"This is not a looting exercise, but an attempt to put centuries of injustice right.

"We don't understand why any of these items are still being held in institutions outside their native lands. It is a relic of colonialism and almost racist attitude by the British establishment in their academic attitudes to the indigenous populations of the British isles."

It is not the first time the league has called for the return of Celtic property.

In the 1980s it won the return for the payment of £1 of the Calf of Man, a small inhabited island off the Isle of Man, from English to Manx jurisdiction.

[blam]

I though the Celts were everywhere as the Phoenicians.(?)

[blam]

Celtics = Phoenicians??

[Frank_Discussion]

Still looking for that missing game ball, eh?

[McGavin999]

They were. This is just silly nattering at the Brits because people now perceive them as weak. One by one, they will strip away every vestige of the "British Empire" until all that remains is a few, pathetic, cowed people. The Brits need to stand up to this and tell everyone to back off.

I still happen to believe that the British people are a courageous and stoic people, but they sure haven't been acting that way lately. Of course, they have the same problem we had, before 9-11 helped US to re-discover our backbones.

[blam]

Comments.

[CIApilot]

I saw the Chessmen a few years ago at a special exhibit on the Isle of Lewis near the beach where they were found. They are absolutely stunning pieces. Wish they could stay in the Hebrides.

[Wm Bach]

As an Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Spanish Celt, I am offended at the exclusion of the Spanish Celts and therefore demand that the Brits keep the artifacts and display them as they see fit.

Spanish bagpipe music rules!

[twigs]

This is ridiculous. Museums all over the world possess artifacts from other cultures and nations. And many of them were gained in ways that we now acknowledge as underhanded. Or at least would not be allowed today. This would just be the start of a wholesale stripping of museums around the world. Brittany is in France, so we are not just talking about moving artifacts around in the United Kingdom. I think that I will eventually trace my primary genealogical line back to Cornwall, but I will be just as happy to visit or research any historical artifacts or records anywhere in England as I would be in the SW corner.

[drjimmy]

Where are Larry Bird, Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, and Hank (High Henry) Finkel when you really need them?

[RJCogburn]

Where are Larry Bird, Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, and Hank (High Henry) Finkel when you really need them?

Probably hangin' with Russell, Hondo, and the Cooz.

[martin gibson]

Spanish bagpipe music rules!

Asturian BUMP!

[RightWhale]

Celtic, eh? What about the original inhabitants of these lands? Don't they have rights, too? Should all their history remain stolen by Celts?

[LostTribe]

>The Celtic League, an independent pressure group representing the indigenous people of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Brittany,
Isle of Man and Cornwall,

This reflects the Classic British narrow minded possessiveness about "who are the Celts" that causes intestinal gas throughout the rest of the very large Celtic world. To find out who the Celts REALLY are, please click on my LostTribe Profile below, and read the 3-MINUTE HISTORY.

[APBaer]

"Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Spanish Celt,"

Swum in ahead of the Armada, did you, a spy?

[blam]

"What about the original inhabitants of these lands? "

You mean like the Fomorians?

(I think these were black folks. Black Irish?)

[blam]

The Celts formally came into Ireland as the Tuatha De Danann., The Tribe Of Dan. IMO.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Celts came from Hungary.

[Born to Conserve]

Let's get things straight here: Are we talking about "Great Britons"? or English? or Angles or Saxons, or Normons, or Vikings or Iberians or Romans or .....?

[LostTribe]

>Are we talking about "Great Britons"? or English? or Angles or Saxons, or Normons, or Vikings or Iberians or Romans or .....?

Most (but not all) of them have Celtic origins. See my Profile.

[JudyB1938]

This is as ridiculous as the idea of reparations. I do believe the world has gone nuts!