Something that seems to happen often in Britain today (& i presume many other countries), is that when new artefacts are discovered, great efforts are made to ensure that they are saved for the nation, that they can be kept in the area where they were discovered [1], and that at all costs, they must not leave the country to a foreign museum or collector. When another country (whose artefacts have ended up in Britain) makes any sort of move to requests their return, this is decried as being a terrible example of “cultural nationalism [2]“.
So – why do we not want to share our own stuff, but enjoy borrowing everyone elses?
From:
Tewkesbury Admag [3]
Evesham Vale
How your coins can keep these coins in county
By Sarah Taylor
6:30pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Evesham ValeA YEAR after a hoard of Roman coins was discovered in Worcestershire, a campaign to ensure the important find stays in the county has raised nearly £9,000.
Museums Worcestershire has been trying to raise £40,000 to acquire, conserve and display the hoard, which was discovered on Bredon Hill last October.
It now has just two months left to raise the remaining cash for the hoard, which is in the British Museum.The haul of treasure was the largest ever discovered in the county, with just under 4,000 coins spanning 16 Roman emperors found by two metal detector enthusiasts.
Research by Worcestershire Archaeology and Archives Service with the British Museum showed the hoard was buried nearly a century after it was gathered – the only known such British example – meaning it is of national significance.
Museums Worcestershire hopes to acquire and conserve the coins and then display them at a number of venues across the county so that they can be enjoyed by all residents.
Councillor John Campion, chairman of the joint museums committee, said: “It is vitally important the hoard stays in Worcestershire. The residents of the county have been fantastic at coming forward with their donations and with the help of Worcestershire Archaeological Society, we are well on the way to raising the money necessary to acquire the hoard.
“Museums Worcestershire will plan further fund-raising in the future to conserve and display the coins.”
Donations can be made online at http://charitychoice.co.uk/worcestershire-hoard or by visiting http://museumsworcestershire.org.uk. People can also give by texting COIN11 and the amount of money to 70070, or by calling into the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, the Commandery in Sidbury, Worcester, or the County Museum at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster.