Ethiopia
Ethiopian treasures to be returned

Misanet.com / IRIN, 6 December - Ethiopia welcomed on Wednesday the imminent return of treasure plundered in the 19th century by British soldiers. An ancient tablet bearing a picture of the Ark of the Covenant is to be handed back early next year after it was found in a cupboard of a Scottish church. 

The tablet is part of an impressive haul including a solid gold crown, 550 bibles and manuscripts looted in 1868 after the battle of Magdala between British and Ethiopian forces.

The Ethiopian-based Association for the Return of the Magdala Treasures said the move now paved the way for Britain to hand back all the artefacts seized by troops under the command of General Robert Napier.

Professor Endrias Eshete, chairman of the association, said: "These treasures are some of the most important items in Ethiopian history. It would be the equivalent of Ethiopia refusing to hand over the British crown jewels."

The association was set up four years ago to pressurise the British Government into handing back the treasure, much of which is housed in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. 

Prof Endrias added: "Hopefully this generous act of handing back the tablet will flush out further items held by private collectors. And it can only serve to apply more pressure for the return of all the items. This is a genuine breakthrough and wonderful for the country."

- The British Government will now have to come up with compelling reasons why they should keep the items, he said. He estimated the treasure could be worth more than US $1 billion - and form part of the first national archive of Ethiopia. 

The intricately carved wooden tablet - known as a tabot - was found by the Reverend John McLuckie from the Episcopal Church of St John the Evangelist in Edinburgh who stumbled upon it while looking for a communion set early this year. Traditionally wrapped in cloths, they form the centrepiece of the country's Orthodox religion.

The tabot itself was bought by an officer from Edinburgh who set it on a plinth and presented it to his home church. It was part of booty seized after the battle between Gen Napier and Emperor Tewodros. The British forces routed the Ethiopians with 700 of the emperor’s warriors being cut down by British rifle fire to avenge the imprisonment of two British envoys. 

The booty was collected and later auctioned off for £5,000. Britain returned part of the treasure when King George V presented Empress Zawditu with a crown when Ethiopian Regent Haile Selassie visited London in 1924.

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