Native American human remains in UK collections: implications of NAGPRA to consultation, repatriation, and policy development (original) (raw)

The past 30 years has witnessed a dramatic shift in attitudes towards excavating (pre)historic cemeteries, the study of human remains, and the retention of remains in formal collections as well as their placement on public display. However, legislation and policy on their treatment varies dramatically, especially across international boundaries. For example, in 2004 the Human Tissue Act, ,the British parliament passed which enabled nine national museums the discretionary power to deaccession human remains under 1000 years old. The Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums was then published the following year as a ‘best practice’ document to aid institutions in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland by providing a legal and ethical framework for the treatment of human remains. Despite these efforts, most repatriation claims in England are not domestic, but are actually related to human remains from overseas. In this case, the Guidance advises that institutions become aware of ...

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