The work of early explorers like Amelia Edwards raises important questions about how artefacts from Egypt ended up in European museums. Their expeditions were driven by colonialist and imperialist attitudes, which gave them a sense of entitlement to take cultural objects from colonised regions.
These explorers believed that they were better equipped to preserve and protect these items, which undermined the ability of local people to safeguard their own heritage.
The evidence we have about ancient Egypt is often shaped by European perspectives. This makes it difficult to fully represent the contributions and experiences of the Egyptian people at the time. While some locals may have been involved in tomb robbing to sell artefacts, there’s evidence to suggest that many were actually trying to protect these objects from being stolen by outsiders. This complicates the narrative of Western explorers as simply rescuing history from destruction.
When we consider this, the story shifts away from being about pioneering European explorers and instead includes the many people affected. From exploited mill workers in Britain, who produced the wealth that funded these expeditions, to the Egyptians who lived and died 3,000 years ago, whose bodies and belongings were removed and transported thousands of miles away, this is a story of disruption and exploitation.
Historians agree that the work of groups like the Egypt Exploration Fund (EEF) helped broaden European understanding of ancient Egyptian culture. Their excavations revealed important details about the social history of the time, offering insight into the daily lives of the people.
However, many historians now advocate for these objects to be returned to Egypt, or at least for the colonial histories behind these collections to be acknowledged
This conversation has inspired initiatives like Egypt’s Dispersed Heritage project, which seeks to address the complex legacy of these artefacts. While some argue that returning these objects to Egypt may present challenges, such as resource limitations or changes in belief systems, this perspective often reflects a colonial mindset. It assumes that Western institutions are better equipped to care for these artefacts, ignoring the rights of modern Egyptians to reclaim and manage their own cultural heritage.
Rather than focusing on whether Egypt has the capacity to handle these objects, it’s important to recognise that the return of artefacts is about restoring agency and justice.
These objects were removed under colonial circumstances, and Egyptians have the right to decide how they wish to preserve and display their history. The ongoing delays in the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, initially planned for May 2024, are a reminder of the social and political complexities in the region, but they do not diminish the importance of Egypt’s control over its own heritage.
“Ancient Egypt became so western – we’re trying to make it Egyptian again.”
— Heba Abd el Gawad, modern historian of ancient Egypt.