UK saleroom withdraws Aboriginal stone from auction

A sacred stone not supposed to be seen by Aboriginal women has been withdrawn from a British auction following a public outcry in Australia.

The stone had been listed for sale at Canterbury Auction Galleries in Kent for up to £6,000 on Wednesday.

However on Tuesday night the Australian High Commission called the gallery to explain its significance.

It was withdrawn and efforts are being made to repatriate it to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

The stone, known as tjuringa, is used in the most profound ceremonies within Aboriginal culture and then secreted away, with only senior elders knowing how to retrieve it....