Results for: Cambridge University

Four Aboriginal spears taken by Captain James Cook over 250 years ago have been returned to Australia’s Indigenous community during a ceremony at Cambridge University on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The spears were among the first artifacts collected by the British from Australia and represent a significant moment in the history of European contact with Aboriginal Australia. The return of the spears is a step towards reconciliation and a greater understanding of Britain and Australia’s shared history.

Four Aboriginal spears taken by Captain James Cook over 250 years ago will be permanently returned to Australia in a ceremony at Cambridge University. The spears, considered highly significant, were agreed for repatriation in March 2022 after a campaign and formal request from the La Perouse Aboriginal community. The return marks Trinity College’s commitment to reviewing the legacies of the British empire and acknowledges the historical misunderstandings and conflict that surrounded Captain Cook’s landing in Botany Bay.