Human Remains
Curation, Reburial and Repatriation

Highlights the importance of best practice in dealing with human remains, and discusses the key ethical and legal issues.

Margaret Clegg (Author)

9781107098381, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 March 2020

184 pages, 19 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.6 x 1.3 cm, 0.41 kg

'Each chapter includes brief case studies as well as practical advice. Due to Clegg's intent to provide a general overview accessible to students, those interested in following up on these issues are directed to the bibliography, which unfortunately seems a little out-of-date. Regardless, advanced students will find much of value here, including the brief quizzes at the end of each chapter, along with an answer key at the end.' W. Kotter, Choice

Working with human remains raises a whole host of ethical issues, from how the remains are used to how and where they are stored. Over recent years, attitudes towards repatriation and reburial have changed considerably and there are now laws in many countries to facilitate or compel the return of remains to claimant communities. Such changes have also brought about new ways of working with and caring for human remains, while enabling their ongoing use in research projects. This has often meant a reevaluation of working practices for both the curation of remains and in providing access to them. This volume will look at the issues and difficulties inherent in holding human remains with global origins, and how diverse institutions and countries have tackled these issues. Essential reading for advanced students in biological anthropology, museum studies, archaeology and anthropology, as well as museum curators, researchers and other professionals.

1. A history of human remains in museum and other collections
2. Human remains and scientific research
3. The legal aspects of human remains
4. Ethical considerations for human remains
5. Good practice in curating human remains
6. Other belief systems and the care of human remains
7. A history of repatriation
8. Repatriation today
9. The importance of provenance
10. Reburial and the alternatives
11. Where we go from here?

Subject Areas: Medical anthropology [PSXM], Physical anthropology [JHMP], Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Anthropology [JHM], Archaeology [HD], Museology & heritage studies [GM]