Medieval abbot's kneecap returns to Glastonbury Abbey after 70-year Australian odyssey
A bone thought to belong to a medieval abbot and a floor tile were sent back to Glastonbury Abbey in England, having been kept in Australia for more than seven decades.
During a 1956 dig at Glastonbury Abbey, young George Box slipped past the site’s barriers and removed a human kneecap and a fragment of medieval flooring. He kept the objects for decades, eventually relocating to Australia where they were displayed in a personal cabinet. After Box died in 2025, his wife honored his wish to return the pieces and sent them home while laying his ashes near his childhood hill, Brent Knoll.
Abbey staff received the unexpected shipment and have placed the items on exhibit, though they cannot identify which abbot the bone belonged to without disturbing the graves. The return highlights both the historical value of the artifacts and the rare, long-distance provenance they acquired.
Why it matters
The repatriation restores cultural heritage to its original site after a decades-long unauthorized removal.
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