Repatriation and reburial of human remains
Encyclopedia
The repatriation and reburial of human remains is a current debate in archaeology
. Various indigenous peoples around the world, such as Native Americans
and Indigenous Australians
have requested that human remains from their respective communities be repatriated for reburial. A famous case is that of the Kennewick Man
in the United States. Similarly, contemporary Druids
have requested the reburial of ancient human remains in the British Isles
.
Repatriation in general seems to be concerned with objects, in the broadest sense of the word, ranging from human remains to art Art repatriation
. But it actually is about people in the present and their perception of the past in the present. Repatriation claims are linked to politics, ethnic identity, and other debates or problems in contemporary society that have or claim to have a historical link to the object.
The contesting of ownership of human remains in museums and other institutions, and demands of return to cultural groups is largely fuelled by the difference in the handling of ‘white’ and indigenous remains. Where the former were reburied the latter were subjects of study and eventually ending up in museums. In a sense one cultural group assumed the right to carry out scientific research upon another cultural group. This disrespectful unequal treatment stems from a time when race and cultural differences had huge social implications. These are changing but the aftermath of centuries of inequality cannot be corrected so easily. This frustration is what partly fuels the repatriation and ownership claims that seem to have increased in the last 30 years. The “traumas of history” can be addressed by reconciliation, repatriation and formal governmental apologies disapproving of conducts in the past by the institutions they now represent. A good example of a repatriation case is described by Thorton where a large group of massacred Indians is returned to their tribe, showing the healing power of the repatriation gesture. But the repatriation of Kennewick man goes far beyond the colonial and Indian confrontations that are the real trauma.
movement is a modern religion with its origins in the 18th century, however based upon the ideas about the original western European druids of the Iron Age
. A key principle found amongst many, though not all Druids, is ancestor veneration, and because of this many believe that they have a responsibility to care for the ancient dead. In 2006, the Council of British Druid Orders' reburial officer Paul Davies requested that the Alexander Keiller Museum in Avebury
, Wiltshire
rebury their Neolithic
human remains, and that storing and displaying them was "immoral and disrespectful". The National Trust
refused to allow reburial, but did allow for Druids to perform a healing ritual in the museum.
Criticism has come of this view from the archaeological community, whose members have made statements like "no single modern ethnic group or cult should be allowed to appropriate our ancestors for their own agendas. It is for the international scientific community to curate such remains." A different argument proposed by archaeologists was that "Druids are not the only people who have feelings about human remains... We don't know much about the religious beliefs of these [Prehistoric] people, but know that they wanted to be remembered, their stories, mounds and monuments show this. Their families have long gone, taking all memory with them, and we archaeologists, by bringing them back into the world, are perhaps the nearest they have to kin. We care about them, spending our lives trying to turn their bones back into people... The more we know the better we can remember them. Reburying human remains destroys people and casts them into oblivion: this is at best, misguided, and at worse cruel."
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. Various indigenous peoples around the world, such as Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
and Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
have requested that human remains from their respective communities be repatriated for reburial. A famous case is that of the Kennewick Man
Kennewick Man
Kennewick Man is the name for the skeletal remains of a prehistoric man found on a bank of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on July 28, 1996...
in the United States. Similarly, contemporary Druids
Neo-Druidism
Neo-Druidism or Neo-Druidry, commonly referred to as Druidism or Druidry by its adherents, is a form of modern spirituality or religion that generally promotes harmony and worship of nature, and respect for all beings, including the environment...
have requested the reburial of ancient human remains in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
.
Repatriation in general seems to be concerned with objects, in the broadest sense of the word, ranging from human remains to art Art repatriation
Art repatriation
Art repatriation is the return of art or cultural objects, usually referring to ancient or looted art, to their country of origin or former owners . The disputed cultural property items are physical artifacts of a group or society that were taken from another group usually in an act of looting,...
. But it actually is about people in the present and their perception of the past in the present. Repatriation claims are linked to politics, ethnic identity, and other debates or problems in contemporary society that have or claim to have a historical link to the object.
Ethical considerations
The controversy comes from the fact that some believe that it is disrespectful to the dead and to their contemporary descendants for their remains to be displayed in a museum or in other ways stored. A lot of the human remains are from archaeological excavations or old physical anthropological collections. They are mainly stored for scientific purposes in museums, medical collections and research facilities. Most of the research on human remains is done “In the name of science”. This expression has had magical and biblical power in the past, but less and less in the modern era. It is very difficult or even impossible to explain the use of archaeology for society. When discussing stakeholders and values in a repatriation case this has serious implications for the outcome of the claim. Comparing archaeological research with medical research one clearly sees a profound difference. Human life is held so precious that for this reason certain sacrifices are made, such as the use of human remains to save future human life. The most extreme case of violation is validated due to the results that can be attained in saving human life. But with archaeology this presents a problem, there is no benefit to the future that validates the desecration of human remains. Medical and social reasons are often used to validate archaeological existence but are vague and very hard prove. The benefit must be sought in the generation of ‘knowledge’ itself and the understanding of human kind. The only question remains when does someone’s perception of ancestor desecration end, this can differ from person to person and from culture to culture.The trauma of history
The first and foremost undercurrent of repatriation is the ill treatment of people in the past, the repatriation of human remains is to a degree part of a healing process bandaging the traumas of history. In essence it is important that this ill treatment is addressed but with the repatriation and reburial of remains they are essentially lost to the world as a reminder of that part of the object's history or biography. Repatriation also presents an opportunity for people to lay claim to their own past and actively decide what is and what is not a part of their cultural heritage. The basis beneath the open wounds of history is the difference in treatment of remains that were seen as sufficiently other and could therefore be studied without any ethical considerations.The contesting of ownership of human remains in museums and other institutions, and demands of return to cultural groups is largely fuelled by the difference in the handling of ‘white’ and indigenous remains. Where the former were reburied the latter were subjects of study and eventually ending up in museums. In a sense one cultural group assumed the right to carry out scientific research upon another cultural group. This disrespectful unequal treatment stems from a time when race and cultural differences had huge social implications. These are changing but the aftermath of centuries of inequality cannot be corrected so easily. This frustration is what partly fuels the repatriation and ownership claims that seem to have increased in the last 30 years. The “traumas of history” can be addressed by reconciliation, repatriation and formal governmental apologies disapproving of conducts in the past by the institutions they now represent. A good example of a repatriation case is described by Thorton where a large group of massacred Indians is returned to their tribe, showing the healing power of the repatriation gesture. But the repatriation of Kennewick man goes far beyond the colonial and Indian confrontations that are the real trauma.
Druids and human remains
The contemporary DruidicNeo-Druidism
Neo-Druidism or Neo-Druidry, commonly referred to as Druidism or Druidry by its adherents, is a form of modern spirituality or religion that generally promotes harmony and worship of nature, and respect for all beings, including the environment...
movement is a modern religion with its origins in the 18th century, however based upon the ideas about the original western European druids of the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
. A key principle found amongst many, though not all Druids, is ancestor veneration, and because of this many believe that they have a responsibility to care for the ancient dead. In 2006, the Council of British Druid Orders' reburial officer Paul Davies requested that the Alexander Keiller Museum in Avebury
Avebury
Avebury is a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles which is located around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire, south west England. Unique amongst megalithic monuments, Avebury contains the largest stone circle in Europe, and is one of the best known prehistoric sites in Britain...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
rebury their Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
human remains, and that storing and displaying them was "immoral and disrespectful". The National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
refused to allow reburial, but did allow for Druids to perform a healing ritual in the museum.
Criticism has come of this view from the archaeological community, whose members have made statements like "no single modern ethnic group or cult should be allowed to appropriate our ancestors for their own agendas. It is for the international scientific community to curate such remains." A different argument proposed by archaeologists was that "Druids are not the only people who have feelings about human remains... We don't know much about the religious beliefs of these [Prehistoric] people, but know that they wanted to be remembered, their stories, mounds and monuments show this. Their families have long gone, taking all memory with them, and we archaeologists, by bringing them back into the world, are perhaps the nearest they have to kin. We care about them, spending our lives trying to turn their bones back into people... The more we know the better we can remember them. Reburying human remains destroys people and casts them into oblivion: this is at best, misguided, and at worse cruel."