Finders keepers, losers weepers, a phrase shaping up to be the main argument for ancient artefacts excavated and or stolen from their countries of origin. But who really owns the past? in my opinion it’s everyone. The people of the world are the custodians and have the responsibility to protect the artefacts left over.
Unfortunately there are disputes between countries over the artefacts they have taken away to ‘protect.’ For example the Parthenon marbles, taken by lord Elgin nearly 200 years ago. Greece wants to restore these friezes to their original setting on the Parthenon but Britain is refusing. Such is the case with other famous and important artefacts including: the Rosetta stone, the famous bust of Nefertiti, Cleopatra’s needle and the sphinx’s beard. These artefacts should not have been removed from their countries of origin and are now causing issues for the countries involved. (Greece had the first connection with the marbles but England now claims the friezes are part of the English psyche because said artefacts have been there for such a long time). Any artefact taken from its country of origin should be returned when possible through a fair agreement between each country. So many artefacts have been taken away by archaeologists and others that the only real compensation for the people is the restoration of their heritage artefacts.
Giving perplexing reasons for keeping another countries artefacts whilst they request they be returned creates an ethical and moral issue... do we take an artefact out of its original context to protect it or do we as people leave it in its place where the artefact is exposed to the possibility of severe damage because it is in its country of origin where it belongs?
This is where countries involved need to come to a practical agreement, it should be one that states the artefact is on loan to another country for its protection etc., and when the artefact is deemed safe by both countries it is returned to its country