By Danica Kirka
The British Museum said Wednesday that a member of its staff has been dismissed after items dating back as far as the 15th century B.C. were found to be missing, stolen or damaged.
The museum said it has also ordered an independent review of security and a ‘‘vigorous program to recover the missing items.″
The stolen artifacts include gold jewelry and gems of semi-precious stones and glass dating from the 15th century B.C. to the 19th century A.D. Most were small items kept in a storeroom and none had been on display recently, the museum said.
“Our priority is now threefold: first, to recover the stolen items; second, to find out what, if anything, could have been done to stop this; and third, to do whatever it takes, with investment in security and collection records, to make sure this doesn’t happen again,″ said George Osborne, the museum’s chair.
“This incident only reinforces the case for the reimagination of the museum we have embarked upon," Osborne said.
The museum said legal action would be taken against the dismissed staff member and that the matter was under investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police Service.
The 264-year-old British Museum is a major London tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world who come to see a vast collection of artifacts ranging from the Rosetta Stone that unlocked the language of ancient Egypt to scrolls bearing 12th century Chinese poetry and masks created by the indigenous people of Canada.
But the museum has also attracted controversy because it has resisted calls from communities around the world to return items of historical significance that were acquired during the era of the British Empire. The most famous of these disputes include marble carvings from the Parthenon in Greece and the Benin bronzes from west Africa.
Hartwig Fischer, the director of the British Museum, apologized and said the institution was determined to put things right.
“This is a highly unusual incident,'' said Fischer said. “I know I speak for all colleagues when I say that we take the safeguarding of all the items in our care extremely seriously.''
When you're making an independent film, it's not always easy to find people willing to open up their wallets to get you off the ground. But "Lean on Pete" director, who's also worked on HBO's series "Looking" says, as people become more familiar with your work, it gets easier.
The world-renowned journalist is known for asking the tough questions. In her new CNN series "Sex & Love," those questions get intimate.
Sara Chodosh, assistant editor at Popular Science, discusses how Daylight Saving Time affects your health. We talk about the rise in fatal car accidents due to sleep deprivation, as well as the negative effects to your health like an increased rate of heart attacks.
Charlie Hall, senior reporter at Polygon, discusses the reign of the Playstation 4 as the number one gaming console, noting that the Nintendo Switch is gaining momentum. Both of these consoles threaten Xbox One's place in the gaming industry. Hall also weighs on the future of gaming and 4K's place in the industry.
After playing a sugar baby on "The New Romantic," actress Jessica Barden realized that power dynamics in transactional relationships aren't too different from those in traditional ones.
Last summer, trans members of the military had thriving careers. But when President Trump tweeted about potentially banning them from serving, many felt their lives were back in jeopardy.
Sangita Patel, CEO at LeVar Burton Kids, says that as an Indian child she didn't see herself represented on TV, and she wants to change that for the upcoming generation.
A new study finds fakes news travels 6 times faster on Twitter than real news. The head of Goldman Sachs responds to reports he is leaving his post. Florida Governor Rick Scott signs a gun safety bill. The bull market celebrates its 9th birthday. The Nasdaq hits a record high.
"A.P. Bio" premiered on NBC on March 1st and has had good reviews so far. Alyssa Julya Smith sits down with one of the stars of the show, Tucker Albrizzi, to talk about how he got the role.
Many consumers today prioritize social-minded businesses and food establishments when they decide where to spend their dollars. That's why the new app, Beam, has made social good the core of their business and mission.
