LONDON (AP) — Four Aboriginal spears that were taken to England by Captain James Cook more than 250 years ago were returned Tuesday to Australia’s Indigenous community at a ceremony in Cambridge University.
The artifacts were all that remain of some 40 spears that Cook and botanist Joseph Banks took in April 1770, at the time of the first contact between Cook’s crew and the Indigenous people of Kamay, or Botany Bay.
The spears were presented to Trinity College, Cambridge by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich the following year, along with other items from Cook’s voyage across the Pacific. The spears have been held at the university’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology since the early 20th century.
Their return, agreed last year following a campaign and a formal repatriation request, was hailed as a step toward reconciliation and a greater understanding of Britain and Australia’s shared history.
College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
After blaming his 2020 loss on mail balloting, Trump tries to make GOP voters believe it’s OK now
Army will present Purple Heart to Minnesota veteran 73 years after he was wounded in Korean War
He feared coming out. Now this pastor wants to help Black churches become as welcoming as his own
Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
Isco fractures fibula and is out of contention for Spain's European Championship squad
Violence in New Caledonia subsides slightly as France sends reinforcements for security
Kansas governor vetoes a third plan for cutting taxes. One GOP leader calls it 'spiteful'
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looks pristine in a one
Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed
Japan passes a revised law allowing joint child custody for divorced parents for the first time