The Latest Breaking News from British Museum

Elgin Marbles could ‘soon be returned to Greece’ as part of ‘cultural exchange’

Current laws prevent British museums from legally giving away items considered national treasures.

The Independent UK · Jan 4, 2023

All the ancient artefacts the rest of the world wants back from the UK including the Elgin Marbles

There's been a lot of conversation about the return of these artefacts

Manchester Evening News · Jan 3, 2023

Detectorists who stole £3m worth of buried treasure ordered to repay £1.2m in three months

George Powell and Layton Davies were jailed for more than 18 years after failing to report their find and handing over just three ‘valueless’ coins out of a 1,100-year-old collection from the reign of King Alfred

The Independent UK · Dec 27, 2022

Germany hands over 20 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

Germany has handed over 20 Benin Bronzes from its museums to Nigeria, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday, making it the latest European country to return cultural artefacts to their African homeland.

Reuters · Dec 20, 2022

Pope Francis orders Parthenon marbles held by Vatican be returned to Greece

Three 2,500-year-old pieces will be ‘donated’ to Greece’s Archbishop Ieronymos II amid wider conversation about future of Parthenon marbles held by Britain

The Guardian - AU · Dec 19, 2022

Pope Francis orders return to Greece of Parthenon sculptures held in Vatican

Pope Francis has decided to return to Greece three 2,500-year-old pieces of the Parthenon that have been in the papal collections of the Vatican Museums for more than a century.

Reuters · Dec 16, 2022

Pope returns Greece's Parthenon Sculptures in ecumenical nod

Pope Francis has decided to give back to Greece the three fragments of Parthenon marbles that the Vatican Museums have held for centuries

The Independent UK · Dec 16, 2022

The British Museum throws a party with Marvel heroes and drag queens

Spiderman and Thor made an appearance

Evening Standard · Dec 15, 2022

Cambridge University to return over 100 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria

Move to see restitution of 116 historical objects taken by British during the sacking of Benin in 1897

The Guardian - UK · Dec 14, 2022

Is the writing on the wall for the British Museum’s BP deal?

Chair of the museum, George Osborne, says it no longer wants to be a ‘destination for climate protest’

The Guardian - UK · Dec 11, 2022