repatriation of cultural property

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the return of cultural objects — including human remains, sacred items, artefacts, and art works — to the communities, peoples, or nations from which they were removed, typically as a consequence of colonial plunder, wartime looting, or the acquisitions of the colonial-era museum and antiquities trade; repatriation is one of the most contested issues in international cultural heritage law and museum ethics, with source communities and nations arguing that objects removed without meaningful consent belong to their cultural heritage, while receiving institutions argue that universal museums provide broader access and better conservation; landmark repatriations have included Greece's ongoing campaign for the Parthenon Sculptures, Nigeria's claim to the Benin Bronzes, and the repatriation of indigenous remains by American museums under NAGPRA