The “confiscation” of the Rosetta Stone came during imperial battles between Britain and France.

The inscriptions on the dark grey granite slab, the text of a decree in three languages, were the seminal breakthrough in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

‘’The British Museum’s holding of the stone is a symbol of Western cultural violence against Egypt,” said Monica Hanna, dean of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, and organiser of one of two petitions calling for the stone’s return. Keep reading list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Archeologists discover array of Aztec artefacts under Mexico City list 2 of 3 Egypt hails el-Sisi, Erdogan handshake as new beginning in ties list 3 of 3 Climate artefacts: How Nazi warships resurfaced in the Danube end of list