The British Museum recently made headlines for updating certain displays in its Middle East Galleries with terms such as “Canaan,” an ancient name for the Southern Levant region. This move sparked controversy, with some accusing the institution of erasing Palestinian history. However, the museum clarified that while some texts were altered to refer to Canaan, the word “Palestine” still appears elsewhere in the exhibits.
Canaan, an ancient region that encompassed modern-day Palestine, Israel, Syria, and Jordan, dates back to around 1500 BCE. The region’s earliest inhabitants settled in Jericho in the modern Occupied West Bank. In the Old Testament, Canaan is also referred to as the land promised to the Jewish people by God.
The British Museum explained that the changes were made to show ancient cultural regions relevant to the southern Levant in the later second millennium BC. They denied removing the term “Palestine” entirely from their displays, stating that it is still used across various galleries, both contemporary and historic. Maps showing modern boundaries use UN terminology, including Gaza, West Bank, Israel, and Jordan.
The group UK Lawyers for Israel claimed credit for the revisions, stating that their requests led to the changes. They argued that labeling certain exhibits with the term “Palestine” obscured the history of Israel and the Jewish people. The museum altered labels and exhibits in response to the group’s concerns, replacing references to “Palestinian descent” with “Canaanite descent.”
However, not everyone was pleased with the museum’s actions. The Palestine Forum in Britain condemned the removal or obscuring of the word “Palestine” in the exhibits, calling it a troubling act of historical erasure. They demanded that the museum reinstate texts including Palestine, commit to independent scholarship, and engage with Palestinians, archaeologists, and cultural experts.
Scottish art historian William Dalrymple criticized the museum’s decision, pointing out that the word “Palestine” has a greater antiquity than the word “British.” More than 13,000 people signed a petition urging the British Museum to restore the relevant labels and provide transparency in their decision-making process, free from political pressure.
In conclusion, the British Museum’s decision to update its displays with terms like “Canaan” and alter references to “Palestine” has sparked debate and criticism. While some support the changes, others view it as a form of historical erasure. The museum faces pressure to address these concerns and uphold curatorial ethics free from political influence.
