An eminent archaeologist has called for more transparency in the sale of antiquities after a rare Roman helmet, found in Cumbria, was bought at auction by an anonymous bidder.
Lord Renfrew, a former professor of archaeology at Cambridge University, raised the sale of the Crosby Garrett helmet at question time on 11 November 2011.
The helmet was discovered by a metal detector enthusiast in May, and is thought to be one of only three of its kind to be found in Britain.
It was bought for £2m by an anonymous bidder last month, defeating a local museum's attempt to buy it and put it on public display.
Lord Renfrew asked if the government would review the law on antiquities in light of the case.
"It is strange that a national treasure can be sold at public auction by an anonymous vendor to an anonymous buyer," he said.
He asked if ministers knew who had purchased the helmet.
Baroness Rawlings, replying for the government, said that she could "understand" Lord Renfrew's concern about the anonymity of the buyer.
However, she said it would be a breach of data protection for information about buyers and sellers were to be released without their consent.
Lady Rawlings confirmed that the government would review the law relating to treasure, giving museums the first chance of purchasing an item that qualifies as treasure.
Lord Clark of Windermere, a Labour peer, paid tribute to the Tullie House museum in Carlisle, which raised a total of £1.96m in an attempt to buy the helmet.
"Does the minister appreciate how disappointed the people of Cumbria are that they have lost this fine artefact?" he said.
Lord Clark asked if the helmet would be subject to an export order if it were taken out of the UK.
Lady Rawlings said she understood that there had been calls for an export ban to be placed on the helmet, but would not speculate on what would happen next.
Peers also asked questions on the concentration of media power, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, and the recent elections in Burma.
Source: BBC News [November 11, 2010]
