ABSTRACT
A central theme of cultural politics has been the claims made, especially by groups of indigenous peoples, for the 'return' of objects from museums, or for control over their interpretation. Religious objects have been central to this struggle. The Parthenon sculptures or Elgin Marbles are the classic example of antiquities claimed 'back' from a museum. Museums have received a very great many other claims to religious objects in their collections. Indeed, requests for the return or 'restitution' of religious objects—alongside human remains—have given rise to much debate both within museums and far beyond. In pride of place in the Early People Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh stands a magnificent sculptured Pictish stone. The museum also agreed to include in the meteorite's interpretation an explanation of its significance to the Native Americans. On a vastly greater scale is the approach taken at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington.
