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.''
Snapchat's VP of Product Tom Conrad is leaving the social media company after two years. Kroger and Alibaba are reportedly discussing a potential partnership. Jason Douglas, reporter for the Wall Street Journal, explains what to make of Donald Trump and Theresa May's press conference at the World Econonic Forum in Davos. Kayak's VP of Marketing David Solomito tells us the top travel trends of 2018.
Ama Marston, co-author of "Type R: Transformative Resilience for Thriving in a Turbulent World," explains how to deal with adversity in an increasingly chaotic world. Marston says the ideas in her book could help world leaders currently at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Actresses Vivian Bang, Nana Ghana, and director Daryl Wein discuss their new movie "White Rabbit," premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. "White Rabbit" tells the story of a struggling Asian American artist.
David Solomito, VP of Marketing at Kayak, discusses the company's 2018 "Travel Hacker Guide" that lists the most popular tourist destinations for the upcoming year.
Tanya Lewis, assistant editor at Scientific American, discusses the new tax the Trump administration recently placed on imported solar panels. She weighs in on what the decision means for the U.S. economy and for the consumer.
Andrew Weir, brand leader for Aberlour Distillery, discusses the rise of whiskey as a go-to spirit around the world. He also explains Scotland's annual celebration of the poet Robert Burns.
Jason Douglas, reporter for the Wall Street Journal, explains what he took away from Donald Trump and Theresa May's Davos press conference.
In an industry that lacks representation, "White Rabbit" costars Vivian Bang and Nana Ghana, and director Daryl Wein joined Cheddar to describe how they leveraged their identities to portray different aspects of artistry in this film.
David Solomito, VP of Marketing of Kayak, spills the beans on the best time to travel during the year. Hint: you might want to pack your bags soon. He also shares budget-friendly tips for vacationing.
Between Bells: Trump touts 'America First' in Davos, Oscar's box-office bump, and why mattresses are changing the way you shop. We're joined by OZY, Bossip.com, Consumer Reports, and more.
