Four spears taken from Australia by a British explorer more than 250 years ago have been returned by the University of Cambridge to descendants of the indigenous community which crafted them, in the latest high-profile repatriation of artefacts.

Cambridge

The University of Cambridge has officially returned four Aboriginal spears to their rightful owners, more than 250 years after they were taken to Britain by an explorer. These spears were originally taken from the Gweagal people, an Aboriginal community in Australia, by Captain James Cook and his crew upon their arrival in the country in 1770. This event marked the first time Europeans are known to have reached Australia's east coast. 

The repatriated spears were part of a collection that was given to Trinity College at the University of Cambridge in 1771, only a year after their removal from Australia. Originally, the collection included roughly 40 spears, but only these four have survived to the present day. The return of these artefacts took place in a ceremony that saw members of the Gweagal community, including David Johnson, accepting them on behalf of the indigenous group. Johnson emphasized the significance of the return as a step towards partnership and shared vision between the communities involved.

The movement to repatriate items of cultural significance has gained momentum globally, with indigenous peoples striving to reclaim artefacts taken during periods of colonization and exploration. The return of the Gweagal spears by the University of Cambridge is a recent instance in this broader trend, which has seen notable successes such as Nigeria's retrieval of the Benin Bronzes. The repatriation comes several years after an initial request was denied, citing concerns about the ability to properly house and conserve the artefacts. This gesture by the University represents a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to address and rectify the cultural legacies left by the empires of the past.



Cambridge University returns snatched Aboriginal spears

Four spears taken from an Aboriginal community by a British explorer over 250 years ago were returned on Tuesday. The University of Cambridge handed them over in a ceremony to descendants of the indigenous community in Australia, which crafted them. It marks the latest high-profile repatriation of artefacts. The four spears are all that remain of the roughly 40 which James Cook and his team took from the Gweagal people on their arrival in Australia in 1770. They became the first known Europeans to reach the country's east coast. The Gweagal people's multi-pronged wooden spears were given to the university's Trinity College in 1771. David Johnson is a member of the Gweagal people. Instead of conflict we have a partnership and instead of a misunderstanding we have a shared vision. Today we have an opportunity to celebrate these spears and what they represent for us, Australia and the whole world. The return comes seven years after an initial request was refused, partly over concerns about housing and conserving the spears. Indigenous people around the globe have battled to recover works pillaged by explorers and colonisers. In recent years some have finally received treasures back, including Nigeria receiving the Benin Bronzes, as Western institutions grapple with the cultural legacies of empire.

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