Calls for return of looted artifacts rise after thefts at British Museum

Discussions over whether museums should return looted items to their countries of origin reignited recently after a surge of thefts at the British Museum. As many as 2,000 items from the British Museum were found to be "missing, stolen or damaged" in August, leading to the sacking of a curator and the resignation of director Hartwig Fischer.

Most of the eight million objects in the British Museum's collection come from other countries. The items lost included gold jewelry, gems of semiprecious stones and ancient glassware dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD.

The scandal over alleged thefts also renewed calls from countries such as Nigeria, Greece and China for contested artifacts to be returned. Cultural heritage experts have said that many of the priceless artifacts may never be recovered because of its poor record keeping.