Horniman returns artefacts to Aboriginal community

A collection of artefacts of significant cultural importance to the Aboriginal Warumungu Community in Australia's Northern Territory have been returned by the Horniman Museum in London.

The items, including a Wurtil (water carrier), Ngurrulumuru (pick), Marttans (knives), Murkutu (sheath), Warnanja (axe) and Wartilykirri (hooked boomerangs), were returned on Wednesday (11 September) at a formal handover ceremony at the museum.

​The Horniman said the return took place after a formal request for the Warumungu materials was received on 3 May 2023.

Michael Jones Jampijinpa, Senior Warumungu Elder, said: “Because it’s been taken away from here, we would like to see all those things come back to the area where they were collected. 

"They are Warumungu and they need to come back to Warumungu country. I want to thank them [Horniman Museum] for sending those things back to us. They’ve made a choice to send them back to where they belong. 

"It wasn’t them who collected it, it was their ancestors, so I want to thank them.”

​Michael Salter-Church, Chair of the Horniman Museum and Gardens, said the return of the objects will support the passing on of Warumungu culture and lore to future generations. 

"The trustees of the Horniman Museum and Gardens are very pleased to enable their return and are honoured to welcome community elders to Forest Hill for the ceremony. 

"Throughout the return process, the Horniman has enjoyed a warm and collaborative relationship with all representatives from Australia. We look forward to continuing this into the future as we connect our visitors and community with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share."