Egyptians demand return of Rosetta stone from the British Museum

This photo provided by the British Museum, shows the Rosetta Stone, the centerpiece of a new exhibition at the London museum titled, “Hieroglyphs unlocking ancient Egypt,” celebrating the 200th anniversary of the stone’s decipherment. (AP)

CAIRO — The debate over who owns ancient artifacts has been an increasing challenge to museums across Europe and America, and the spotlight has fallen on the most visited piece in the British Museum: The Rosetta stone.

The inscriptions on the dark grey granite slab became the seminal breakthrough in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics after it was taken from Egypt by forces of the British empire in 1801.