Human Remains in Museums: The Controversial and Complex Issue
Museums are known for their vast collections of artifacts, ranging from paintings to sculptures, ancient artifacts to contemporary art pieces. However, some museums also house an extensive collection of human remains – a practice that has been widely debated and criticized by many.
The idea of displaying human remains in museums dates back centuries. From the late 16th century onwards, European explorers brought back bones and mummified bodies from different parts of the world as objects of scientific curiosity. These items were then displayed in cabinets of curiosities or natural history museums alongside other exotic specimens.
However, with time, this practice became increasingly controversial. Critics argue that it is unethical and disrespectful to display human remains as mere objects of curiosity or entertainment. They argue that such displays can offend religious beliefs and cultural sensitivities.
On the other hand, proponents argue that these displays serve an educational purpose by providing insight into human biology, evolution, and culture. Additionally, they argue that exhibiting certain types of human remains can help raise awareness about social justice issues related to historical injustices such as slavery or colonization.
So what exactly are the guidelines governing the display of human remains in museums?
In many countries around the world, there are laws regulating how institutions handle human remains — including how they obtain them — but these laws vary greatly from country to country.
For example, In Europe – EU Directive 2010/63/EU states “Member States shall ensure that animals used in procedures are killed without suffering any avoidable pain” which allows for animal research while ensuring their humane treatment – no similar law exists for humans yet.
In general terms though most Governments have provisions regarding respecting cultural practices during burial ceremonies; however there’s not much clarity on whether such protocols should be followed when dealing with ancient or prehistoric bones discovered through archaeology excavations (which may not necessarily belong to any particular cultural group).
Apart from legal regulations, museums often have their own ethical guidelines when it comes to the display of human remains. For example, the American Alliance of Museums has established a set of guidelines that recommend institutions consult with stakeholders and communities before exhibiting human remains.
Furthermore, many museums have also made efforts to repatriate or return human remains to their countries of origin or descendants in recent years. For example, in 2018, the British Museum returned ancestral remains of Indigenous Australian people back to their community after over 100 years.
However, despite these efforts and regulations, controversies continue to arise regarding the display of human remains in museums.
One such controversy arose recently when a Paris auction house announced plans to sell off several Native American artifacts including scalps— items which were taken as war trophies during colonial times. Native American tribes strongly opposed this sale and criticized it for being insensitive and disrespectful towards their culture. The French government subsequently intervened and halted the auctions.
Similarly, several indigenous groups have expressed concern about the display of mummified bodies at various institutions across Europe. They argue that displaying these bodies goes against traditional beliefs about death and can be viewed as an invasion of privacy.
In conclusion:
The issue surrounding the display of human remains is complex – there are valid arguments on both sides. While some may argue for educational purposes or scientific progress; others see this practice as unethical and disrespectful towards certain cultures’ beliefs about burial rituals or even just basic ethics regarding respect for other humans who’ve passed away regardless whether they belong to your community/religion/race or not.
Perhaps one way forward would be improved collaboration between museum curators/staff & local communities – by engaging them more frequently throughout exhibit planning processes before any displays go up – ensuring transparency around how exhibits are curated so everyone’s aware what goes into creating an exhibit with respects given where due (culturally sensitivities etc) while still providing insights into anthropology, history, and science.