Return of the mummies?

Human remains from around the world acquired by museums in Britain — including shrunken heads, Egyptian mummies and countless bones — could be repatriated under a plan to be considered by the government. A working group set up by the culture department is expected to recommend setting up a commission to consider claims to the remains. But the plan — in a report soon to be delivered to Baroness Blackstone, the arts minister — is likely to bring complaints that it will open the way to a torrent of claims.

The commission, which would be independent but overseen by the culture department, would recommend returning remains in cases where repatriation would not seriously harm academic research in Britain.

Some groups have already demanded the return of remains. These include the Chitimacha tribe from Louisiana, some of whose female ancestors are at the Natural History Museum in London. Groups in Ecuador and Peru are seeking the return of shrunken skulls from the Jivaro Indians, some of which are held by the Pitt-Rivers Museum in Oxford.

National museums are prevented by law from selling or returning any artefacts. The working party is expected to recommend a change in legislation. Until now the government has been cautious for fear that any change could force the return of items such as the Elgin marbles.

Maurice Davies, deputy director of the Museums Association and a member of the working group, said: “We are looking at legislation permitting museums to return bones if they wish to do so.”

Posted by David on April 13, 2003 1:55 PM