Reflective Blog Entry 2

One of the many contested items within the British Museum that can be found on permanent display in the 'Enlightenment Room' is the Early shield from New South Wales, Australia. Estimated to have originated around the late 18th to early 19th century from the coastal regions north of New South Wales, this aboriginal artifact has naturally become subject to much controversy after being removed from it's original location. This is often the case for any artifact that gets relocated from it's original location to a museum often associated with the travesty of colonization. It is possible that the shield was made prior to the 18th century, however, we only have information of it's existence back to the 1700s during Captain Cook's visit to Botany Bay. It was likely removed from Australia during this period where colonial governors would routinely send native artifacts from the southern continent to the United Kingdom. There is little record on the history of this shield's existence or transport so it is still uncertain exactly who discovered it and how it made it's way to England. 

In 2015, after being held in British custody for over 2 centuries, the shield made a temporary appearance in it's homeland for the first time since it's discovery. It was here that a campaign led by Rodney Kelly, a man with Aboriginal heritage, began with the goal of having the shield returned permanently from whence it came. Kelly has continuously visited the British museum, reigniting discussions again and again with the hopes of having the object returned to it's rightful home. He has also been a vocal advocate of doing more detailed studies of the shield, including carbon dating and proper analysis in order to provide a more specific account of the shields origins, hopefully in cooperation with the Aboriginal population. The British Museum is also open to this and is facilitating discussions. Being that the shield is the oldest known shield from the continent of Australia, it remains a very important piece of history, and it's context within the museum has increased it's association with the colonization and cultural erasure of Australia.

 

 

https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection/early-shield-australia