1 20 2 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/17bf7ef4bf2b8fa783a5309a3db1bdcb.png?Expires=1792627200&Signature=vR-t86fmpgVUODxAO6snjtgYLCOKhRS9Vs97lGjeKU6kWR8LO-HKjPkQ4Dvmtyu2PtPL5rgHCF0NU3jNesjHiOlpCkmR7jVYZWQPGk5pDRKUv8XN0gkaGxUloSrArOllQln8X614YriYNd6DmCG7OCHHr7vS87nqtUdDMmVY9vHTLZSRKHHRYDcyImmYKH-frwnsXHxQVBeTaKBkfj%7EWRD%7Epr9GINpPki5zb81fmnBnvxTTNYIOt-WDR1fTImk1X8FMgg3EP6FBZqTDAdbbZNgFU6pXwOdQ0qLrBmG7%7EGqv2Ku4m2v8Wmpq1zd0Ylap3nF1MmTryt1nQSSwSjuKifQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM ce7dffcff81972598498dc8fab0bbf3a Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Object or Group Name The common English name of the object or group of objects. Cambodian Iron Age Jewelry with Human Remains Case Summary Narrative summary of the object’s looting, identification by authorities and repatriation. In March, 2011, the Cambodian Embassy of Australia in Canberra hosted a poignant hand-back ceremony. Cambodian and Australian government and embassy officials, as well as law enforcement agents and civilian subject-matter experts (including the author, Damien Huffer), were present to witness the return of an especially unique and arguably macabre group of seized cultural heritage items and human remains. The 30 Iron Age artifacts, made and used as grave goods sometime between approximately 500 BCE and 300 CE, were ripped out of burials in otherwise unrecorded cemeteries somewhere in Cambodia’s northwest. Items recovered included bronze earrings and wrist and leg bangles still containing soil and, in many cases, finger, arm and leg bones still attached. Melbourne-based antiquities dealer Frank Bottaro, owner of B.C. Galleries, had initially attempted to sell the artifacts on eBay, and then via the gallery's website and online catalog. Bottaro has previously been arrested in Egypt in 2008 for alleged smuggling, and also forfeited Egyptian tomb artifacts to the Australian Federal Police in 2005. When the Cambodian objects were spotted on eBay, individuals notified the Australian Archaeological Association and World Archaeological Congress, which in turn notified the the Australian Government, which had the artifacts removed from eBay. “The Australian Archaeological Association alerted the Australian government that the human remains and ornaments were on eBay,” reported Eleanor Dead, the director of public affairs at the Australian Government's Office for the Arts at the time. Simultaneously, Damien Huffer was notified that they were also for sale in the gallery's online catalog. At the time, Huffer was a PhD student and also had begun a blog "It Surfaced Down Under!" that provided context and opinion around antiquities trafficking and sales by galleries in Southern Hemisphere market countries. This attempted sale garnered the attention of agents of the then-Cultural Property Division of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, who reached out to Huffer and, later, Prof. Dougald O'Reilly, for background information. Where might they come from? How many individuals were represented by the bones, and of what ages? Can the artifacts be relatively dated? The information provided helped ensure that the items (and the Styrofoam shipping containers they came in) were seized and forfeited without contestation. Prof. O'Reilly noted after the hand-back ceremony: “[Looting] is still an issue across a lot of parts of Cambodia....Even today we still find that people are looting burial sites.” While other artifacts from China and the Philippines were seized from Bottaro at the same time, these did not involve human remains, and their seizure was challenged in court. Under the current wording of Australia's Protection of Moveable Cultural Heritage Act 1986, the "burden of proof" is on claimant countries to prove theft, rather than accused dealers to prove legitimate acquisition. The challenge ultimately saw these seized items returned to Bottaro, a key test of the legislation that prompted further calls for reform. Number of Objects Count of objects reflected in this record. 30 Description of Object(s) Provide a brief description of the object or objects in the record. A variety of bronze bangles, bracelets, earrings and finger rings, corroded green and, in some instances, fused together. Many of the artifacts contained soil and fragmented human remains from both adults and children. Object Type Type of object based on its function. Select from drop-down list. Jewelry – bracelets, rings, personal decoration Human Remains – skeletons, mummies Size General size of the object (numbered 1-5); 1 - small or fragmentary (e.g. coins or sherds) 2 - medium (e.g. most vases) 3 - large (e.g. between a bread box and an adult) 4 - extra large (i.e. adult human sized) 5 - monumental (larger than an adult human) 1 Object Materials Material(s) that the object or group of objects is made of. Select from drop-down list. Bronze Human Remains Creation Date Year this object was created, in years BCE/CE; use circa if presenting a range. Use specific year, decade or century. circa 500 BCE - 300 CE Country of Origin The modern country of origin that this object came from (i.e. where it was found). Select from drop-down list. Cambodia Culture Ancient culture associated with the object. Iron Age Cambodia Findspot Approximate site or location where the object was found (i.e. the archaeological provenience). Cemeteries most likely in northwest Cambodia Date Looted Approximate year that the object or group of objects was excavated or stolen. 2010 or earlier Dealer Person(s) who offered the object for sale. Frank Bottaro Gallery Name of the gallery, shop or dealership where the object was offered for sale, with the name of the city where the gallery was located in parentheses. B.C. Galleries, Melbourne Expert Review Person(s) who analyzed the object or wrote about its authenticity, value or significance. Include here credit to people who identified the object as looted (relevant publications can be listed in Sources). Dr. Damien Huffer Dr. Dougald O'Reilly Repatriated? Repatriation status of the object. Select from drop-down list. Yes Year Returned Year of the return of the object to its country of origin. 2011 Sending Country Country from which the object was returned during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Australia Returning Entity Institution or individual that returned the object to its country of origin (not a law enforcement agency). B.C. Galleries Law Enforcement Entity The law enforcement entities that investigated the object before its repatriation. Cultural Property division of the-then Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government Receiving Country Country that received the object during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Cambodia Reason for Return Why the object was returned. Select from list: Law enforcement seizure; court ordered civil forfeiture; claim from country of origin; voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim; or other. Law Enforcement Seizure Current Location Place where the object is currently held. Provide as much information as possible (Institution, City and Country, when known). National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh Sources Reliable sources of information related to the object and its repatriation. Preference to primary sources (court records, documents, archival sources) and authoritative secondary sources (media reports, blogs etc.). For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. Bringing Them Home: The Repatriation of Priceless Human Remains and Artifacts to Cambodia <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170307111934/https://www.savingantiquities.org/bringing-them-home-the-repatriation-of-priceless-human-remains-and-artifacts-to-cambodia/">https://web.archive.org/web/20170307111934/https://www.savingantiquities.org/bringing-them-home-the-repatriation-of-priceless-human-remains-and-artifacts-to-cambodia/</a> CASS academic helps restore stolen ancient artefacts <a href="https://cass.anu.edu.au/index.php/news/cass-academic-helps-restore-stolen-ancient-artefacts">https://cass.anu.edu.au/index.php/news/cass-academic-helps-restore-stolen-ancient-artefacts</a> Australia to return smuggled treasures <a href="https://www.tourismcambodia.com/news/localnews/2578/australia-to-return-smuggled-treasures.htm">https://www.tourismcambodia.com/news/localnews/2578/australia-to-return-smuggled-treasures.htm</a> Special: The Repatriation of Cambodian artefacts <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150216021634/http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2011/03/11/special-repatriation-cambodian-artefacts/">https://web.archive.org/web/20150216021634/http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2011/03/11/special-repatriation-cambodian-artefacts/</a> Melbourne man arrested over antiquities <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/melbourne-man-arrested-over-antiquities-20081225-754o.html">https://www.smh.com.au/national/melbourne-man-arrested-over-antiquities-20081225-754o.html</a> Images Source of the images uploaded to this record. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. <a href="https://archive.md/GnvBI">https://archive.md/GnvBI</a> Image Captions Write a brief caption for each image included, providing context for what is shown. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. Cambodian Embassy, Canberra, Australia MOLA Contributor(s) Person(s) who contributed to the information in this record. Anonymous is an acceptable entry. Damien Huffer Research Notes Any additional notes about research questions, issues or further research needed. Bottaro offered a forearm with bangles for $200-$300 on his website, suggesting the total value for the 30 objects may have been about $7,500. Status Completion status of MOLA record. Select from drop-down list: Stub (Needs basic research), Incomplete (Missing key fields), In progress (Has been assigned), Ready for review (Complete; awaiting peer review) and Completed (Ready to publish). Only Completed records are made Public. Completed Auction House Auction house(s) that offered the object for auction. eBay Auction Realized Price Approximate sale price of the object at auction. Should be displayed in USD, alongside list price in original currency. not sold Peer Reviewed By Person who peer reviewed this record. Jason Felch Last Known Price, Valuation or Estimate The most recent reported price, valuation or estimate of the object. Should be displayed in USD, alongside list price in original currency. AUD $7,500 (estimate) Year of Last Price Year of the most recent reported price, valuation or estimate of the object. 2011 Value in 2024 US Dollars Value in 2024 US Dollars, adjusted for inflation. Use inflation calculator here: https://www.oanda.com/currency-converter/en/?from=EUR&to=USD&amount=1 10411.21 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Cambodian Iron Age Jewelry with Human Remains Australia Cambodia https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/3a554bfadfcaccd3896d62ae80480e45.PNG?Expires=1792627200&Signature=lc91Sw24oK2d%7ExQTGAycG5GlxCwtNP4LTiihtwYEgV26ck4r-BCdlYkOEkIyhUpB16301qzc%7EPKWciPwKwPUUmhPSKiQl2hxBiF0H%7EhJ1k0zNI0OkIzHaRuMTA%7EkFZnTRJTcb%7EsH3NpS19uSGtFMEWhPcfQiUPVEh8i4aHsCbm8Hx1lkGG3cczlxSUgS0rJ5lmkMIp9ms2JYz1eJdKr6rz0SV8y1lKAVNL6cK7nMQJwGKbN-MQRK5cufr5UqGnlAr6g41n12FXA-SyTFCCC2uWjUDW9ShZ%7E3Y9dbjiFWthHbq67um3L-naXyt5JBoi5VlsgkhD%7EtHcvPl1tnDaHHfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 52b443258c73e8e06ac3fabefb7d3108 Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Object or Group Name The common English name of the object or group of objects. Gweagal Aboriginal Spears Case Summary Narrative summary of the object’s looting, identification by authorities and repatriation. Four wooden fishing spears taken from Kamay/Botany Bay in 1770 by Lieutenant James Cook and Joseph Banks were repatriated from Trinity College Cambridge to the La Perouse Aboriginal Community in April 2024. The spears are associated with the Gweagal clan of the Dharawal Nation and are among the earliest surviving and documented Aboriginal cultural objects collected by Europeans from Australia. The spears were taken during the first encounter between the crew of HMB Endeavour and Aboriginal people at Kamay. Cook recorded that 40 spears were removed from the camps of Aboriginal people living at Botany Bay in April 1770; the four Gweagal spears are the only known survivors from that group. They were presented to Trinity College in 1771 by Lord Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty and a Trinity alumnus, after Cook’s return to England. Since 1914, they had been in the collection of Cambridge University’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The spears are considered by Gweagal people as “national treasures” and remain connected to continuing cultural practice. Contemporary Gweagal people continue to use related multi-pronged fishing spears in the waters of Kamay, demonstrating the continuity of knowledge and practice across generations. In December 2022, the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Gujaga Foundation made a formal claim for the spears' repatriation. In March 2023, Trinity College agreed to return the spears and sought approval from the UK Charity Commission to transfer legal title. The legal pathway for the return reflected the status of Trinity College as a charity. UK charitable institutions may need approval to transfer collection objects where such a transfer falls outside ordinary charitable powers, including in cases understood as morally compelling claims for restitution. Trinity College’s decision therefore formed part of a broader institutional reckoning with collections shaped by the British Empire. On April 23, 2024, the spears were handed over in a ceremony at Trinity College’s Wren Library to representatives of the La Perouse Aboriginal Community, including descendants of the Gweagal people who made them. Three contemporary spears made by Senior Gweagal Clan leader Rodney Mason were later loaned to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The original spears will be displayed at a new visitor center at Kurnell, Kamay/Botany Bay, near the place from which they were taken. Until then, at the request of the La Perouse Aboriginal Community, they will be cared for by the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney. Number of Objects Count of objects reflected in this record. 4 Description of Object(s) Provide a brief description of the object or objects in the record. Four wooden fishing spears with split sharpened prongs secured to the shaft by resin and sinew. Object Type Type of object based on its function. Select from drop-down list. Equipment – weapons, helmets, tools, musical instruments Size General size of the object (numbered 1-5); 1 - small or fragmentary (e.g. coins or sherds) 2 - medium (e.g. most vases) 3 - large (e.g. between a bread box and an adult) 4 - extra large (i.e. adult human sized) 5 - monumental (larger than an adult human) 3 Object Materials Material(s) that the object or group of objects is made of. Select from drop-down list. Wood Creation Date Year this object was created, in years BCE/CE; use circa if presenting a range. Use specific year, decade or century. circa 1770 C.E. Country of Origin The modern country of origin that this object came from (i.e. where it was found). Select from drop-down list. Indigenous or sovereign nation/tribe Australia Culture Ancient culture associated with the object. La Perouse (Dharawal) and Gweagal People Findspot Approximate site or location where the object was found (i.e. the archaeological provenience). Botany Bay (Kamay), New South Wales, Australia Date Looted Approximate year that the object or group of objects was excavated or stolen. 1770 Alleged Looter Person(s) who removed the object from the findspot or original location. Captain James Cook or Joseph Banks Facilitator Person(s) involved in the trafficking of the object who did not own or sell it. John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich Expert Review Person(s) who analyzed the object or wrote about its authenticity, value or significance. Include here credit to people who identified the object as looted (relevant publications can be listed in Sources). Nicholas Thomas (Director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology) Ray Ingrey (Gujaga Foundation director) Museum Name Name of the institution that held this object before it was repatriated. Please use the official name of the institution. University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Museum Accession Number Number associated with the acquisition of the object. MAA D 1914.1; D 1914.2; D 1914.3; D 1914.4 Museum Curator Curator who facilitated the acquisition of the object. Anatole von Hügel Year Acquired Year that the object was acquired by the institution. 1914 Museum Donation or Purchase? How did the museum acquire the object(s)? Select from drop-down list. Donation Repatriated? Repatriation status of the object. Select from drop-down list. Yes Year Returned Year of the return of the object to its country of origin. 2024 Sending Country Country from which the object was returned during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. UK Returning Entity Institution or individual that returned the object to its country of origin (not a law enforcement agency). University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Receiving Country Country that received the object during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Australia Indigenous or sovereign nation/tribe Reason for Return Why the object was returned. Select from list: Law enforcement seizure; court ordered civil forfeiture; claim from country of origin; voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim; or other. Claim from country of origin Criminal Behaviors Alleged Criminal behavior associated with the case. Please select all that apply. Colonial looting Current Location Place where the object is currently held. Provide as much information as possible (Institution, City and Country, when known). Chau Chak Wing Museum, the University of Sydney Sources Reliable sources of information related to the object and its repatriation. Preference to primary sources (court records, documents, archival sources) and authoritative secondary sources (media reports, blogs etc.). For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260523113058/https://www.nma.gov.au/about/media/media-releases-listing-by-year/media-releases-2024/return-gweagal-spears-la-perouse-community">Return of the Gweagal Spears to the La Perouse Aboriginal Community</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260523113542/https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/news/aboriginal-spears-to-be-returned-to-traditional-owners/?fbclid=IwAR3kCmHzUyKttnYZN8hxuo2k82ynLAGZIniOHNvCxfe68VAUgyhvFKgUE6g">Aboriginal Spears to be Returned to Traditional Owners</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260523113838/https://www.nma.gov.au/about/media/media-releases-listing-by-year/2023/aboriginal-spears-repatriation">Four Australian Aboriginal Spears Taken by James Cook to be Returned to Traditional Owners</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260523114358/https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/04/04/botany-bay-spears-obtained-in-1770-to-be-displayed-in-sydney.html">Botany Bay Spears Obtained in 1770 to be Displayed in Sydney</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260523154613/https://maa.cam.ac.uk/gweagal-spears">Contemporary Gweagal Spears by Rod Mason </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260525020544/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68875158">Cambridge College Reutrns 18th-century Aboriginal Spears</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260525020544/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68875158" title="Cambridge College Returns 18th-century Aboriginal Spears"></a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260525020913/https://collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/492265/">Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Collection Record</a> Images Source of the images uploaded to this record. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20260525020544/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-68875158">Cambrige College Returns 18th-century Aboriginal Spears</a> Image Captions Write a brief caption for each image included, providing context for what is shown. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. James Cook and his crew collected the spears on 29 April 1770 and took them aboard their ship MOLA Contributor(s) Person(s) who contributed to the information in this record. Anonymous is an acceptable entry. Madalyn Grant Status Completion status of MOLA record. Select from drop-down list: Stub (Needs basic research), Incomplete (Missing key fields), In progress (Has been assigned), Ready for review (Complete; awaiting peer review) and Completed (Ready to publish). Only Completed records are made Public. Completed Provenance Summary A chronological history of the object's ownership history, starting with the oldest date first. Enter a year and summary of the transaction for reach provenance event. Before 1770 -- Made and used by Gweagal people of the Dharawal Nation at Kamay, now known as Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia. 29 April 1770 -- Taken from Gweagal camps at Kamay/Botany Bay by members of the HMB Endeavour expedition during the first encounter between the Gweagal people and the British crew. The National Museum of Australia and Trinity College describe the four spears as taken by James Cook and Joseph Banks; Cook recorded that around 40 spears were taken. 1771 -- After Cook’s return to Britain, the surviving spears entered the collection of Trinity College, Cambridge. They were presented to the College by John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty and a Trinity alumnus. 1771–1914 -- Held by Trinity College, Cambridge, reportedly in the Wren Library. 1914 -- Deposited by Trinity College at the University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, under accession numbers MAA D 1914.1; D 1914.2; D 1914.3; D 1914.4. December 2022 -- A formal repatriation request was made by the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Gujaga Foundation for the return of the four spears to the La Perouse Aboriginal Community. Other unsuccessful repatriation requests predate this claim. March 2023 -- Trinity College Cambridge agreed to repatriate the four spears and began seeking approval from the UK Charity Commission to transfer legal title. 23 April 2024 -- The four spears were permanently repatriated in a ceremony at Trinity College’s Wren Library. Peer Reviewed By Person who peer reviewed this record. Lisa Duffy-Zeballos Alternate Name(s) Other names by which the object or group is known; these may be formal titles, museum titles or colloquial titles, if different from the above Object or Group Name. Gweagal Fishing Spears Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gweagal Aboriginal Spears Australia Cambridge University