This session explores the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding ownership of cultural property and long-lost possessions. While high-profile disputes such as the Elgin Marbles illustrate the political and cultural dimensions of restitution, the discussion will also consider how different categories of property are treated in law. 

From stolen or lost artworks, to archaeological artefacts removed from their place of origin and later sold, to the increasingly sensitive issue of human remains and repatriation claims, the session examines where law, history and morality intersect. It will compare how different jurisdictions approach restitution, limitation, title and cultural heritage, and the tensions between market ownership and cultural identity.