The British Museum from an Anthropologist

By Ethan Christ

The British museum probably contains one of the most impressive collections in the world of artifacts, art, history, and relics from all across the world. That being said, it stands as a testament to Britain’s colonial and imperialist history, and I was shocked by Britain’s lack of effort to come to terms with that within the museum. This museum contains some of the most iconic pieces in the world from half of the Greek Parthenon marbles, to the Rosetta Stone. As amazing and awe-inspiring as it is to witness these monuments in person, it is difficult knowing where they came from and how they were obtained. The Napoleon led French took the stone from Egypt (where it was originally built and written) in the early 19th century, and then the British took it from the French shortly thereafter, and it has been in British possession ever since. The Egyptian government has wanted the stone back ever since it was taken, but it still remains at the British Museum in London. Similarly, the Greek

Parthenon marbles were taken in the early 19th century and have been in London ever since. The most disparaging part is that there are no displays in the museum around these objects addressing the conditions and circumstances that they were taken under. Walking around and entering the exhibit on India, I was disturbed to find very little information on Britain entering and colonizing India. In fact, one of the only displays reads “The British began governing India by direct rule” which was very alarming for me to read as the first mention of Britain in India. The museum starts to feel very artificial when you really begin to look at and read the displays and where everything came from.

Most artifacts do not say where they came from, which leads to insinuate that they were taken during imperial times. Even more so alarming is when you realize the British museum has over 8 million artifacts in their collection, and they can only put out 80,000 at one time. Meaning we only see 1 percent of their collection, and for every 1 item you see there are 99 more. I cannot imagine how you can justify keeping so many artifacts when you can barely put a percent of them on display, and firmly believe that the British Museum needs to return many of these artifacts to where they came from.

Two Truths And A Lie

1. I had fish and chips in London

2. I went to 7 museums while we were there

3. I went to a club the night before we left back for the US

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