Denmark to return Agpalilik meteorite to Greenland

The governments of Denmark and Greenland have reached an agreement to return the Agpalilik meteorite to Greenland. The 20-ton iron meteorite was removed from northwestern Greenland in 1967 and has been displayed at the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen for nearly 60 years.

For the Inuit people, the meteorite holds significant cultural, historical, and ritual importance, as iron from such stones was traditionally used to create tools. Greenlandic Minister of Education and Culture Nivi Olsen expressed satisfaction with the political consensus regarding the restitution, noting that legal and administrative work is underway to finalize the transfer.

Denmark will cover the costs of transportation. While the agreement is settled, a final decision on where the meteorite will be located within Greenland has not yet been made.