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.

[dasboot]

They want the artifacts back so they'll end up in the sand again. No. Absolutely not:

These precious artifacts rightfully belong in the pubs of Celtonia.

[technochick99]

This would just be the start of a wholesale stripping of museums around the world.

This sort of stuff infuriates me. At this point, the treasures belong to the world, not just those who descended from the original people.

[blam]

"Always thought I was Phoenician, even before I started reading this cool stuff except then I read that the red hair gene (rampant but recessive in my family) was due to descent from Neandertals. What's with that?"

You must have read this article, huh?

Redheads 'Are Neanderthal'

[#3Fan]

No. Absolutely not: These precious artifacts rightfully belong in the pubs of Celtonia.

Each individual piece's circumstance would have to be looked at, I think. For instance, if France demanded the Statue of Liberty back, should we give it back? It was a gift, so that would go into the decision. Likewise, whatever the circumstances with each piece should go into each individual decision with each artifact.

[gd124]

How absurd. Shouldn't the Scandinavians be the ones demanding the chess sets back?

[RichInOC]

To Hell with the Celtics...go, Lakers!

[ruoflaw]

they can make all the demands they want but that doesn't mean they have the right to "reclaim" ownership. I think their demand is ridiculous.

[Henchman]

You sound like a Brit. The return of the artifacts are no less than the equivalent restitution (in part). Akin to the restitution made by Germany after their NAZI past, one must hope the Brits can be more magnamaous, after all they ran amok for a few hundred years. Hopefully, they will retain some artifacts to remind them of the slavery, drug trade and other similar such institutions they created or spread.

[Henchman]

Ditto on my prior comment

[McGavin999]

Actually, I'm a Celt, and as such I know that what is left behind you is meaningless. The Celts have always honored knowledge and as long as the artifacts are spreading that then it should be fine. Why on earth would they try to confine that kind of knowledge?

[BnBlFlag]

Aren't the Scots actually Irish invaders who took over what is now Scotland from the "Picts"? Gaelic was the original language of both the Scots and the Irish.

[ruoflaw]

according to this article, I am of Celtic blood and I think this "reclaiming" of artifacts is ridiculous.

[carpio]

BTTT