Mr. Neil MacGregor and 2 others
2 RESPONSES
This petition was delivered to:
The British Museum
Mr. Neil MacGregor
See response
The British Museum
Mr. Jonathan N. Tubb, FSA Keeper Middle East
The British Museum
Department of the Middle East

The British Museum: Stop the Misrepresentation of Armenian Heritage as "Ancient Turkey"

Gagik Avagyan
Toronto, ON
The British Museum is misinforming visitors about the artefacts displayed in Raymond and Beverly Sackler Gallery No. 54, claiming they originated from “Ancient Turkey”. Our complaint is with regard to the artefacts of the Armenian cultural heritage, and in particular from the period of the Kingdom of Urartu, which are of great cultural value to Armenians and their history. The museum prescribes the artefacts dating back to the 9th to 6th century BC to “Ancient Turkey”, while copper and bronze age to “Pre-Historic Turkey”. Even the burnished wine jugs excavated from Karmir Blur, present day Republic of Armenia, are displayed in this gallery under the title “Ancient Turkey”. Since Turkey as a country, or its people - for that matter, did not exist prior to the 15th century AD, when writing or speaking about ancient times, the terminology “Ancient Turkey” is incorrect and irrelevant.
The Middle East keeper of the British Museum, Mr Jonathan Tubb, accepts the nonsensical character of the term, but justifies its use by pointing out that their aim is “to make the Museum's signage as simple and accessible as possible and avoid terms that would not be immediately apparent to non-English speakers; as many of our visitors come here from abroad.” He then adds, “When borders or country titles change we will change accordingly." First of all, this explanation is groundless and not objective, since Room 55 is entitled Mesopotamia and Room 57-59 - Ancient Levant. If the statement were true then the above mentioned rooms should have been called Ancient Iraq and Ancient Syria respectively. Secondly, such a statement is a direct offense to both the visitors, who are perceived as ignorant, as well as to the bearers of cultural heritage that is on display at the museum. As an educational institution the role of the British Museum is to educate their visitors about the true origin of art and culture and their creators. By falsifying the history and misleading the visitors, the British Museum is losing credibility as an institution that conserves exhibits of historical importance. This is an unacceptable distortion and revisionism of history. Therefore, we demand that the truth and justice be restored!

“It is a coinage that will please Turkish individuals and organisations of extremist or ultranationalist sympathies, who periodically launch murder raids on non-Turkish individuals and communities.”
Christopher J. Walker
Author, Armenia: the survival of a nationVisions of Ararat: Writings about ArmeniaIslam and the West

"Why is truth important? Few things could be more damaging to cultural memory and  our understanding of historical change than the policy of describing all places and regions in terms of their present political constitution: "When borders or country titles change we will change accordingly." Does the BM really say that Roman London was located in England? What matters is the political and cultural constitution of place and region at the time whence the displayed artefacts are derived. It is precisely when borders and country's titles change that history is needed to bear witness to how things were: to show us at least the rudiments of the past. Anachronism is the very ignorance of history. Yet the BM seems to be making a principle of anachronism."
Charles Lock 
Professor of English Literature
University of Copenhagen, Department of English, German and Roman Studies

LETTER TO
The British Museum Mr. Neil MacGregor
The British Museum Mr. Jonathan N. Tubb, FSA Keeper Middle East
The British Museum Department of the Middle East
Stop the Misrepresentation of Armenian Heritage as "Ancient Turkey" 
RECENT UPDATES

Victory

19 Jul 2013
Gagik Avagyan: The Museum did change the name and this is how it looks like now! There was never an"Ancient Turkey" at all, Turkey was established in 1920-23, Ottoman Empire was established in 15-th Century. I'm not completely happy about the outcome, but it's a VICTORY.
PETITION UPDATE

We have a small Victory! Thank you All for your Support!

18 Jul 2013 — Latest Armenian Article is claiming, that the British Museum have Changed the name of Room 54 to "Anatolia / Urartu"!
I'm attaching the link bellow, you can use translating cervices to read the Article. But online room 54 page is still named as old "Ancient Turkey"... Read more
PETITION UPDATE

12,085 signatures! Thank you all for your support!

18 May 2013 — Here is a latest news from the Museum..... NONE! 
Please keep up your support, share this petition on every social network and ask your friends to participate. 
Thank you again, for your continues support! Read more
PETITION UPDATE

Great News Dear supporters!

3 Apr 2013 — Gagik Avagyan and 11,454 Petitioners, have a Question.
Dear Mr. Neil MacGregor, The Institute of History is ready to present scientific information on the discussed matter with regards to the presentation of gallery 54 of the British Museum, are you willing to cooperate with Mr... Read more
PETITION UPDATE

British Mseum removed my post!

20 Mar 2013 — 
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states –

‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights... Read more
PETITION UPDATE

Dear Petitioners, 10,400 and counting Supporters and Growing!

18 Mar 2013 — Another childish attempt to misguide their petitioners and try to "justify" their misrepresentation, in the answer to Armenian Facebook user British Museum is now on their page trying to mislead! Stating this is the "Marketing Guy" responsible for "Ancient Turkey" sign.Read more
PETITION UPDATE

10,015 signatures and counting!

15 Mar 2013 — Dear Supporters, I would like to Thank each and everyone of you, most importantly to Non-Armenians, who supported our cause!
This is not only very important to Armenians, but the World History itself, this is a gross violation of Human Rights and denial of People of their... Read more
10,000 SUPPORTERS
15 Mar 2013
PETITION UPDATE

9000 and growing supporters!

10 Mar 2013 — We Armenians are very humbled and grateful to Non-Armenians and thank you for your Kind support in our struggle.
We also would like to remind to British Museum and Mr, Jonathan M. Tubb, that 1.5 million and more Armenians can't sign, because of the... Read more
Prof. Uğur Üngör Ermeni Soykırımı Sırasında Yaşanan Haciz Olaylarını Anlatıyor - (2012)
Prof. Uğur Üngör Ermeni Soykırımı Sırasında Yaşanan Haciz Olaylarını Anlatıyor - (2012)
Soykırım Eğitim Projesi, Profesör Uğur Üngör'ün konuyla ilgli bir sunumuna ev sahipliği yaptı. Üngör'ün konuşması, yakın zamanda yayımlanan kitapları, Batı Ermenistan'ın nasıl Türkiye'nin parçasına... 
HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/
9,000 SUPPORTERS
9 Mar 2013
PETITION UPDATE

8538 Signatures and counting!

7 Mar 2013 — Dear supporters, We have an update, from British Museum, it was short e-mail just one word: 
------------
"test"Read more

Decision-maker Mr. Neil MacGregor responds

7 Mar 2013
test
PETITION UPDATE

8008 Signatures and counting! 

5 Mar 2013 — THANK you for your continuous support. I especially would like to thank to all Non - Armenians, who Sincerely supported this cause!
I followed up to the logic of the sign in British Museum, and the response of Mr. Jonathan M. Tubb, made a "discovery", that if (God Forbid) they... Read more
8,000 SUPPORTERS
5 Mar 2013
PETITION UPDATE

7275 Votes and counting!

2 Mar 2013 — Thank you all for your continues Support! We all Armenians are very Grateful for your support
I also would like to see, where in This petition they find any "quotes recently attributed to British Museum staff are entirely untrue and fabricated... Read more
7,000 SUPPORTERS
2 Mar 2013
PETITION UPDATE

6135 and counting!

28 Feb 2013 — I would like to thank you all, for your support, and your comments!
We, Armenians are Grateful to all who with us joined their voices to the blatant falsification of the truth.Read more
6,000 SUPPORTERS
28 Feb 2013
PETITION UPDATE

5580 times thank you!

28 Feb 2013 — They are betting on the divisiveness and internal conflicts we have had as people. We unite and we re-establish truth and memory of our ancestors. We lay the foundation of solidarity and togetherness based on truth and comradeship, and all these falsifications will go away. Recognize... Read more
Enigma of the Armenian Alphabet: Letters, Protons and Paradoxes: Bilingual Edition by Vahan Setyan (Paperback) - Lulu
Enigma of the Armenian Alphabet: Letters, Protons and Paradoxes: Bilingual Edition by Vahan Setyan (Paperback) - Lulu
Buy Enigma of the Armenian Alphabet: Letters, Protons and Paradoxes: Bilingual Edition by Vahan Setyan (Paperback) online at Lulu. Visit the Lulu Marketplace for product details, ratings, and reviews.
HTTP://WWW.LULU.COM
PETITION UPDATE

5580 supporters and counting!

28 Feb 2013 — [They] have spent and continue to do so, millions of dollars to falsify information because of two primary reasons.

1. They are new comers to the Armenian historic lands and they... Read more
PETITION UPDATE

5214 and counting - Re: "buregrs as German invention". Mr. Tubb

27 Feb 2013 — With a pathetic attempt to win his argument, Professor Jonathon N. Tubb from the British Museum responded to our petition by giving a foolish hamburger analogy. “I like burgers and I want the world to acknowledge burgers as a German invention, not an american one. Fries... Read more
5,000 SUPPORTERS
27 Feb 2013
PETITION UPDATE

4750 Supporters and counting!

27 Feb 2013 — I would like to say Thank you all who supported this cause! 
Updates are coming soon!Read more
PETITION UPDATE

4551 and counting Supporters!

26 Feb 2013 — In addition to the petition, please stop by and read!
Arman Grigoryan Dear BM according to this article from Wikipedia you are committing Genocide as I type these words.
Lemkin defined genocide as follows: "Generally speaking... Read more
Genocide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Genocide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Genocide is "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been... 
HTTP://WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Decision-maker Jonathan N. Tubb, FSA Keeper Middle East responds

26 Feb 2013
I like burgers and I want the world to aknowlege burgers as a german invention, not an american one. Fries yes, they are french. Burgers are not!
PETITION UPDATE

4000 supporters and counting!

26 Feb 2013 — I would like to thank you all who have signed this petition and would say Thank you from bottom of my hearth!
It is very humbling, to see so many people around the world land their support for the truth!Read more
4,000 SUPPORTERS
26 Feb 2013
PETITION UPDATE

3900+ thank you !

25 Feb 2013 — So Mr. Neil MacGregor, what can you say to 3900 people who signed this very important petition, to start giving the credit to who truly it should be given to?
Read more
PETITION UPDATE

3900 supporters and counting!

25 Feb 2013 — ----------------
Chloe Dunbobbin, PLYMOUTH, UNITED KINGDOM

I am a passionate advocate of recognition of the Armenian... Read more
PETITION UPDATE

British Museum should act now, 3740 signed and growing!

25 Feb 2013 — Here is the Facebook post on British Museum's page, and their response!
Amazing thing is, that they are repeating the same word by word (copy paste) what they did in the first response on my request!Read more
The British Museum... | Facebook
The British Museum... | Facebook
Sofia Khachatrian wrote: The British Museum is misinforming... Join Facebook to connect with Sofia Khachatrian and others you may know.
HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM
PETITION UPDATE

3620 and counting!

25 Feb 2013 —  Dear BM CEO or other executives of British Museum, if you aren't aware of Armenia and History of Armenia, please have a look on these maps, 196 OLD MAPS where Armenia is mentioned as ARMENIA, not "Ancient Turkey" nor "Ancient Anatolia".Read more
PETITION UPDATE

every Step is getting closer to Win!

25 Feb 2013 — http://www.armweeklynews.am/awn/e12/en_1228.htm
I'm Pleased to Announce, that our petition is getting Larger public attention and now is going viral!Read more
Petition by Gagik Avagyan : Stop misrepresentation of Armenian Heritage as "Ancient Turkey"
Petition by Gagik Avagyan : Stop misrepresentation of Armenian Heritage as "Ancient Turkey"
Petition by Gagik Avagyan : Stop misrepresentation of Armenian Heritage as "Ancient Turkey" This petition will be delivered to The British Museum Petitioning Neil MacGregor and Jonathan N. Tubb The... 
HTTP://WWW.ARMWEEKLYNEWS.AM
PETITION UPDATE

3000 and counting!

24 Feb 2013 — We have achieved this number with your support! Thank you all, for your Great Support! We Armenian People are very Grateful to you!
Yesterday I was on AMGA TV and today we starting to get published first article in Armenian and English languages.Read more
3,000 SUPPORTERS
24 Feb 2013
PETITION UPDATE

2970 and counting

24 Feb 2013 — I would like to bring to your attention, that eyewitnesses reporting, that BM is trying to hide the Reality from Armenians, who have concerns!
here is Mrs. Mariana Asminians comment from LONDON, 
Read more
PETITION UPDATE

2516 supporters and counting!

24 Feb 2013 — Thank you all supporters of the Historical Truth! This is important, that we demand the true history be thought everywhere. 
Future Generations should learn the true history from Museums and Books!
It is unacceptable for any nation being presented just like... Read more
2,500 SUPPORTERS
24 Feb 2013
PETITION UPDATE

2320 and counting!

24 Feb 2013 — Dear supporters, I would like to bring to your Attention to this Painting of Armenian History by Italian Artist, Leonardo Giovanini - Vardanank 1872. Venice
Read more
PETITION UPDATE

2257 Supporters and counting

24 Feb 2013 — I'm, very Humbled and Grateful to all who participated to this petition!

I would like to Thank you on behalf of my ANCESTORS, who... Read more
2,000 SUPPORTERS
24 Feb 2013
PETITION UPDATE

1897 times, Thank you for signing this petition! 

24 Feb 2013 — I would like to share with you the response of BM to the letter of EHMFN Ashot Grigorian.
Here is a small part of the letter to Mr. Grigorian.
" Your concern appears to be primarily the concealment of... Read more
PETITION UPDATE

1627 votes and counting!

23 Feb 2013 — Dear friends I would like to bring to your attention to the link below! 
I don't see on the old map, of 1581, name of Ottoman empire (predecessor of Turkey), the Europeans knew about " Anatolia" or "Turkey"? How... Read more
PETITION UPDATE

We have reached 1555 signatures and growing!

23 Feb 2013 — Thank you, all for participating to this important issue!
I would like to inform you, that constantly I'm updating and posting some of your comments here on BM facebook page. Bellow is the link to the museum's facebook page, you may times to time check in, and you can add... Read more
1,500 SUPPORTERS
23 Feb 2013
PETITION UPDATE

Just eached the 1000 and growing!

22 Feb 2013 —  Thank you all for your incredible support.
We have already posted on the facebook page of British museum, to start the process, i will keep you posted.
Here is the link to the Museum's FB page.Read more
1,000 SUPPORTERS
22 Feb 2013
PETITION UPDATE

Just passed 200 signature mark

21 Feb 2013 — Thank you for showing your support. It's very important to bring up and show the Truth. 

Read more
200 SUPPORTERS
21 Feb 2013
Petition started on 19 Feb 2013