British Museum faces probe over handling of tabots, sacred Ethiopian artifacts held 150 years out of view

London — London's renowned British Museum is facing an investigation by the United Kingdom's information watchdog over claims that it has not been transparent about a collection of sacred Ethiopian altar tablets held away from public view for more than 150 years. The museum has housed the 11 wood and stone tabots — replicas of the Ark of the Covenant — since they were looted from Ethiopia by British forces following the Battle of Maqdala in 1868. 

According to the museum, the tabots are "believed by Ethiopian Christians to be the dwelling place of God on Earth, the mercy seat described in the Bible, and the representation of the Ark of the Covenant." The ancient Ark of the Covenant, according to Jewish tradition, contained the 10 Commandments.

If and when consecrated, a tabot is typically kept in a church's Holy of Holies, an inner sanctum that only senior clergy are permitted to enter. Because of their sacred nature, the tabots have never been put on public display by the British Museum.