Visitor Perceptions of Ancient Egyptian Human Remains in Three United Kindom Museums

Hugh Kilminster

doi:10.5334/pia.202

Abstract

Although the issues of retention and display of human remains have become topical over the last decade, the thoughts of museum visitors about this topic have not been registered, despite their being the museums’ main stakeholder. The vast majority (82.5%) of 300 respondents questioned in the summer of 2002 at three British museums displaying ancient Egyptian human remains supported the idea of having these remains on display. However, a small percentage of visitors (14.2%) wanted the remains displayed in a appropriate and respectful environment, and this may be the key future challenge for collections with human remains that have no cultural descendants. This paper summarises research into visitor perceptions of ancient Egyptian human remains in museum collections and on display in the United Kingdom and suggests further research into the various aspects of human remains in museums, particularly regarding more recent remains or those with cultural descendants.

Highlights

The issues of retention and display of human remains have become increasingly topical and relevant to the museum profession
Some of the conclusions reached in this work could apply to other collections of human remains without cultural descendants
The Working Group has been charged with, amongst other things: Examining the current legal status of human remains within the collections of publicly funded Museums and to consider the desirability of a Statement of Principles relating to the care and safekeeping of human remains and to the handling of requests for return

Summary

Introduction

The issues of retention and display of human remains have become increasingly topical and relevant to the museum profession (see Butler 2001; Layton 1989; Parker Pearson 1995). Archaeologists and museum professionals have to be aware of how to deal sensitively with the issues raised by excavating human remains and maintaining them as part of their collections. Significant was the formation of a Working Group on Human Remains in May 2001 by the United Kingdom Minister for the Arts. The establishment of this group led directly on from the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), “Report on Cultural Property” (Bauer 2001). The Working Group has been charged with, amongst other things: Examining the current legal status of human remains within the collections of publicly funded Museums and to consider the desirability of a Statement of Principles relating to the care and safekeeping of human remains and to the handling of requests for return

Methods

Results

Conclusion