Well--that's an interesting bit of non-reporting.
Funny how, of all the international researchers and scientists the
writer alludes to as having their research hampered by these
recommendations, not one is mentioned by name, let alone interviewed.
Or, of the museum professionals whose work is presumably most affected,
the only one cited said how repatriation has had a positive effect on
the museum's operations.
No where is there mention of how many sets of remains have lain for
decades, even centuries, in museum collections and have never been
studied, and for which there are no plans to research. Nor is there
reference to the lack of resources to possibly study all human remains
currently held by museums around the world.
Never have I heard the suggestion that tracking down the provenance of
any collections item was an unproductive avenue of research, and the
assertion that "the emphasis on gaining 'consent' for remains is
actually a reflection of the museum profession's loss of faith in its
own mission as the collectors, carers and studiers of artefacts" is just
bizarre.
The very essence of what we do is based on our collections; collections
are core to the concept of "museum" as defined by any number of
regional, national or international museums associations. But, any
collections-based work is hampered by uncertainty over the museums'
claims to ownership of those collections; it's why we take such care to
gather gift forms and receipts whenever a new piece is acquired. Look
at how many art museums are evaluating pieces with questionable
provenance from the World War 2 era--there hasn't been a general
hue-and-cry on the loss to humanity over returning art looted by
occupying forces to their previous owners (except by governments and
collections that stand to lose those pieces), because it's the right
thing to do.
The pursuit of scholarship does not make all things justified--If I
needed to study a Rembrandt in a private collection to illustrate my new
theories on his art, I'm not entitled to steal it from the owner if he
doesn't consent to my study of it. It's the same with the returning of
human remains that had be collected without consent. It has nothing to
do with abrogation of museum responsibility, or the rise of "aboriginal
mysticism," or any other such nonsense--pure and simple, it's respect
for the proper way to do things.
Sorry about the rant, folks, but the kind of thinking represented in
this article always bothers me--even more so when it's poorly presented
by a pseudo-intellectual publication professing to "stand for liberty,
enlightenment, experimentation and excellence." Yeah, right.\
------------------------------------------------------------
Tim McShane, Assistant--Cultural History
Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery
1302 Bomford Crescent S.W.
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 5E6
(403) 502-8587
>>> [log in to unmask] 11/26/03 05:08AM >>>
Dear all,
I thought you might find this article of interest as an international
comparison
A report by the UK government's 'Human Remains Working Group' shrouds
history in mystery, to the detriment of science.
Read on http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/00000006DFDE.htm
Best wishes,
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