I’m curious about which objects are being labeled as just “bits and pieces” versus which are labeled significant. Only four are labeled significant, and some of these are not actually in any photos from the excavation site, so I wonder how they feel so certain that they came from the tomb. One object in particular is identified as a small dog statue, less than an inch tall. This being labeled as “significant” makes me wonder how significance is determined. Was such a small object really “significant” to the boy king, or is it just significant because it has survived in tact for so long?

Faye

Manchester Museum of UK is returning more than 174 objects to an Indigenous Australian community. It is considered to be a great example of cultural repatriation.

The objects were all bought or traded for in the 1950s by Peter Worsley, an anthropology PhD student researching the lives of Indigenous Australians who later became a professor at the university. The items were acquired from Umbakumba, Groote Eylandt in the 1950s.

Doll shells are a wholly unique practice to the Anindilyakwa women of the archipelago. Keepers of spirits and ancestors, Dadikwakwa-kwa are considered alive by the women who create and care for them. Traditionally used as inter-generational learning aides for literacy, numeracy, kinship systems and women’s health, Dadikwakwa-kwa may also guide you through your dreams, answering your questions and giving advice. They hold sacred knowledge and stories safe for future generations.

The object was most likely worshipped due to its natural connections, and it originally being from a temple. Although not mentioned in the objects description, it is important to note that many female forms depicted with curvaceous figures were also commonly prayed to for fertility reasons.

Despite being gifted to the museum in 1982, the object was on a loan at the museum since 1965. 

Current location: British Museum, London

Country of origin : India ( the Indus Valley Civilization region)

The Harappan Necklace is an artifact from the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization, dated around 2600-1900 BCE.

As we can see in the picture, the necklace is made out of semi-precious stones and beads. It is use as a jewelry for decoration purpose symbolizing the wealth within the Harappan society. Back in the original community, the object is various ceremonies and daily life.

This Harappan Necklace was taken by British during the colonial period and aken to the British Museum as part of their collection

source:

The coffin had an elaborately decorated surface made up of different scenes and texts created with Gesso Relief, intended to protect and guide Nedjemankh through his path from death through the eternal after life. The coffin was sheathed in gold, which would have been thought to assist the deceased to be reborn in the next life.

Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/press/news/2019/metropolitan-museum-of-art-returns-coffin-to-egypt

The Founders museum in Barre, Mass. USA returned Moccasins, necklaces, clothing, ceremonial pipes, tools and other objects from the Sioux nation which were taken from the the wounded knee massacre site. These items were taken from the dead bodies of the Sioux people; most likely male. {Date of wounded knee, December 29, 1890} Wounded knee occurred, in part, due to the US govt. breaking multiple treaties with the Sioux Nation which said that these lands would be a part of the Sioux Nation forever.

The items taken were every day objects and ceremonial objects. Tobacco and the smoking of it, using pipes, signifies a spiritual connection for many Indigenous Nations in the US.

From the article:

"Some 870,000 Native American artifacts – including nearly 110,000 human remains – that should be returned to tribes under federal law are still in the possession of colleges, museums and other institutions across the country, according to an Associated Press review of data maintained by the National Park Service."

In terms of gender representation, the Begram Ivories themselves don't have a gender associated with their purpose or creation. They are inanimate objects crafted by artisans, and gender is not a factor in their creation or purpose. 

Their intricate designs suggest they held significance in the cultural and artistic life of the time, possibly serving as status symbols or objects of worship.

The precise artisans responsible for crafting the Begram Ivories remain elusive to historians, largely due to the lack of available information and the ancient origins of these artifacts. Additionally, the purpose behind their creation remains uncertain, as they were discovered among collections of various objects, making it challenging to attribute them to a specific artisan.

These intricately carved ivory artifacts were previously kept at the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul and were restituted to Afghanistan from the British Museum in the United Kingdom. The Begram Ivories are believed to have served as decorative elements in furniture or as luxury items in ancient Afghanistan, showcasing the artistic and cultural sophistication of the region. They played a significant role in the original community as symbols of wealth and status. The objects ended up in the museum through the French Archaeological Delegation in Afghanistan (DAFA) during the early 20th century, which led to their removal and subsequent acquisition by foreign institutions. 

2- The Rosetta Stone is a big piece of black rock from Egypt that's kept in the British Museum. It was made in 196 BCE and has writing in three different languages: Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Ancient Greek. This stone helped people understand Egyptian hieroglyphs.

3- Back in Egypt, the Rosetta Stone was like an official letter from the king, King Ptolemy V. It was probably put on display in a public place like a temple or a government building so everyone could see it. It showed the king's power and how he talked to his people.

4- The stone was found by French soldiers in Egypt in 1799 during a war. When the French lost to the British, they had to give up the stone in 1801. It was part of a deal called the Treaty of Alexandria. Then, the British took it back to their country and put it in the British Museum, where lots of people could see it. Museum, where lots of people could see it.

The source:

https://arce.org/resource/rosetta-stone-unlocking-ancient-egyptian-language/

-Emily A

Lisa

2. The returned items include a 300-year-old Mponponso sword.

3. It used in swearing-in ceremonies. A gold peace pipe and gold discs worn by officials responsible for cleansing the king’s soul. These objects are to be said by the citizens that hold immense cultural and spiritual significance Ashanti people.

4. it is a bronze mask of silenus from the second century, receiving the items, many of them delicate heads made from stucco, clay, and a soft stone known as schist,

5. These recovered works are irreplaceable pieces of Afghanistan’s diverse culture and rich history

6. Traffickers are not just robbing Afghanistan of its history Looting Afghanistan’s past is looting Afghanistan’s future.

Jamal

This crown is a symbol of royal authority and power, worn by Emperor Tewodros II during his reign in the 19th century. It holds significant cultural and historical importance in Ethiopia, representing the country’s monarchy and identity.

The crown was taken from Ethiopia in 1868 after Emperor Tewodros II committed suicide following defeat in battle against British forces. It eventually ended up in the National Museum of Scotland as part of its collection of artifacts acquired during the colonial period.