13:04 Nov 8 

A Google search shows that the British Museum uses the language "acquired" for Taylor's action, but doesn't say who from or how. On the other hand, the museum is very specific about stating that it purchased the prism from Taylor's widow. Most other sources say Taylor "discovered" or "found" the prism in the ruins at Nineveh. So, while "acquired" usually means "purchased" with respect to items like this, it seems it might just be a weasel word to get around the manner in which Taylor obtained the prism (either because there are doubts or because it wasn't politically correct, at least not by modern standards). Taylor might simply have taken the prism as a souvenir from his ramble through the ruins! It seems that the only thing that can safely be said about Taylor's action is that he "brought back" the Nineveh prism from his tour as British Consul General in Baghdad. We may never know exactly how he "acquired" it!