Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Broken Hill Man Skull
The United Kingdom has expressed its willingness to engage in bilateral negotiations with Zambia for the return of the Broken Hill Man Skull.
This is contained in a joint resolution between the two governments adopted at the 21st Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of the Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution of Illicit Appropriation following a case brought against the UK before the Committee at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France on Thursday.
Presenting the case on behalf of the Zambian delegation to compel the UK to return the Broken Hill man Skull, National Heritage and Conservation Commission Executive Director Collins Chipote stated that the relic is Zambia’s indigenous and earliest hominine finds.
Mr. Chipote explained that the Skull was discovered in Kabwe on June 17, 1921 by Tom Zwigglar of the Broken Hill Development Company, during a mining operation after blasting of a kopje and that it was found in association with a number of items including upper jaw, a sacrum, a tibia and two femur fragments.
He said the skull is of great sentimental value to Zambians and its absence in the country had deprived nationals of the knowledge about technology and human development in the distant past.
Mr. Chipote further stressed that the skull’s presence in the UK had deprived Zambians of research in human origins leading to inadequate public interest that was needed to pursue the fascinating study of human origins.
And Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary, Reverent Dr. Howard Sikwela thanked the 15 out of 22 Member States that spoke and supported Zambia.
This is contained in a statement issued to QTV News by first secretary for press and tourism at Zambian Embassy in France Yande Musonda.