I do think that cultural affilation should be shown - but then the remains
should be sent back. In some cases now people are working together - tribes
and scientists - getting the science out and then allowing them to go. Seems
like a good solution.

There is a letters page - one of those published seems to be from an angry
archeologist. I am sure they could cope with a few mad museum people


>From: David Harvey <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Future of Human remains in UK museum collections
>Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 21:56:51 EST
>
>One of the more provocative and insightful books on this subject is:
>
>"Skull Wars: Kennewick Man, Archaeology, and the Battle for Native American
>Identity" by David Hurst Thomas, 2000, Basic Books.
>
>Of course the politics and social dynamics surrounding human remains in
>North
>America is different from that in the UK.
>
>But nevertheless I believe that there are guidelines and ethics that should
>be followed in museum and collections practice no matter what social or
>cultural group that the remains originate from.
>
>Some of you may want to read the excellent article on the conservation
>issues
>surrounding human remains in the Journal of the American Institute for
>Conservation,
>" The Ethical Dilemma Facing Conservation: Care and Treatment of Human
>Skeletal Remains and Mortuary Objects" by Gary S. McGowan, & Cheryl J.
>LaRoche.
>(JAIC 1996, Volume 35, Number 2, pps 109-121)
>
>The article can be found on JAIC online at:
>
>http://aic.stanford.edu/jaic/articles/jaic35-02-003_indx.html
>
>There was a conference on the topic of human remains, involving mostly
>archaeological collections, that was held in Williamsburg, Virginia in
>November
>1999. I believe that the proceedings will be published soon. My good
>colleague
>Emily Williams organized the conference and I would be happy to put anyone
>in
>touch with her who is interested in the status of the proceedings.
>
>Cheers!
>Dave
>
>David Harvey
>Artifacts
>2930 South Birch Street
>Denver, CO  80222
>303-300-5257
>[log in to unmask]
>
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