British Museum director Hartwig Fischer stepped down on Friday after it was reveled that numerous artifacts were stolen. A number of items in the museum's collection were reported stolen two years ago, including gems and jewelry from centuries ago. The responsibility for that failure must ultimately rest with the director, Fischer said.
A delegation from the Chilean Easter Island early this week has asked the British Museum in London for the return of an iconic statue believed to date from around 1200 AD and even offered to replace it with a replica carved from stone by a contemporary artist.