British Museum Charges $225 BZD to View Looted Xunantunich Altar Hidden from Belizeans

While the British Museum claims to offer free admission, a Belizean looking to view an image of the looted Maya altar from Xunantunich, Belize, would need to pay $225 BZD. Despite being in possession of the sacred altar since 1938, the museum has not made a photograph of it available online. The altar, which depicts the Maya god of death, was looted by British archaeologist Thomas Gann in 1924 and remains unseen by the Belizean public.

Gann, a controversial figure known for removing Maya artefacts, detailed the theft in his book Mystery Cities. Using a stone saw to cut the altar from the Xunantunich site, Gann trimmed it down to make it easier to transport. For years, the 180-pound altar remained in his private collection until it was bequeathed to the British Museum upon his death in 1938. However, it wasn’t until 1991 that the altar was finally catalogued and added to the museum’s collection—but it still remains hidden from public view.

The museum has posted images from the Thomas Gann collection, which includes other looted Maya artefacts like beads, figurines, and pottery. Yet, the sacred altar remains inaccessible. According to Gann’s own account, the altar was removed from the jungle with the help of rum-fuelled aborers. It bears the image of the Maya death god and nearly illegible hieroglyphs, which Gann deemed insignificant.

For Belizeans, obtaining a photograph of the altar is an expensive ordeal. Aside from the $225 BZD charge, those wanting expedited service would have to pay an additional $119 BZD, bringing the total to $349 BZD for a seven-day turnaround. This steep price is for viewing an artefact that many believe rightfully belongs to Belize—a piece of cultural heritage that has never been seen by any living Belizean.

Source: richardsonreports