Widow returns medieval Glastonbury Abbey relic stolen 70 years ago
A medieval kneecap and floor tile stolen from Glastonbury Abbey in 1956 by an 11-year-old boy have been returned by his widow. The artifacts were taken during an archaeological dig and kept by the man until his death in 2025.
Why it matters
The return of historical artifacts highlights the importance of cultural heritage preservation and the ethical responsibility of individuals regarding stolen antiquities.
A kneecap believed to have belonged to a medieval abbot has been returned to Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, England, more than 70 years after it was taken by an 11-year-old schoolboy during an archaeological dig.The bone was taken in 1956 by George Box, who slipped under the ropes at the excavation and picked it up from an open tomb. Along with the kneecap, he also took a fragment of a medieval floor tile. The items remained with him for decades, including after he moved to Australia in the 1970s.Following George Box's death in 2025, his widow brought both artefacts back to Somerset this summer while visiting to scatter his ashes near Brent Knoll, where he had grown up.
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