Cambridge University to Repatriate Aboriginal Spears
A ceremony at Cambridge University’s Trinity College will mark the permanent repatriation of four Aboriginal spears to Australia. The spears, which were taken by Captain James Cook in 1770, hold great significance for the La Perouse Aboriginal community, as they are the first artefacts collected by the British from any part of Australia.
The return of the spears follows a decade of talks between the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) and the Aboriginal community. Trinity College’s decision to repatriate the spears reflects its commitment to reviewing the complex legacies of the British empire.
The spears will be cared for by the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney until they can be displayed at a new visitor centre in Kurnell, Kamay. The repatriation ceremony will include readings from the Voyage Journals of James Cook and Joseph Banks, as well as statements from representatives of the La Perouse Aboriginal Community.
