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Medieval abbot’s kneecap returned to Glastonbury after 70 years
A medieval kneecap and floor-tile fragment taken from Glastonbury Abbey in 1956 have been returned to the Somerset site after more than 70 years. George Box, then an 11-year-old schoolboy, picked them…
The Story in Brief
A medieval kneecap and floor-tile fragment taken from Glastonbury Abbey in 1956 have been returned to the Somerset site after more than 70 years. George Box, then an 11-year-old schoolboy, picked them up during an archaeological excavation and later took them to Australia. After Box died in 2025, his widow brought the artefacts back while visiting Somerset to scatter his ashes near Brent Knoll. The items are now displayed in the abbey museum. Staff believe the kneecap belonged to one of three abbots who died between 1250 and 1290, but identifying the exact owner would require reopening the graves and risking damage to other archaeology.
The Indian Opinion
The story invites two easy narratives: a charming childhood prank with a happy ending, or a careless theft excused by old age. Both miss the balance. The objects were removed without permission, yet the family eventually returned them and the abbey chose not to disturb the graves for a symbolic identification. That restraint matters more than the relic’s unusual journey. The real test is whether museums can encourage voluntary returns while protecting excavation sites from similar losses.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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