[Cronos]

And the "current Egyptians" also include Coptic christians who speak Coptic which is derived in part from ancient Egyptian and whose ceremonies, while Christian, reflect ancient Egyptian modes of worship. These are descended from the ancinet Egyptians, have a cultured derived from that and a language derived from the ancients. Don't they then have a claim on the artifacts?

[nopardons]

NO !

As with the Greeks ( who keep demandoing the Elgin Marbles be returned ), if it weren't for the Brits, these artifacts would no longer exist most probably. The Elgin Marbles were sold to the English, by the Turks, during the " great " Caliphate. The Rosetta Stone was first taken by the French ( Nappy's unsuccessful war ) and then taken by the Brits. Tough noogies . With so much continued war and turmoil in the Middle East, it's better off in the British Museum, where EVERYONE can see it !