The Salisbury Museum
Human Remains Policy
Governing body:
The Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Trust
Date on which this policy was approved by governing body:
7 July 2016
Policy review procedure:
We will review the human remains policy every three years to ensure it is in line with national guidelines and standards.
This policy should be read alongside The Salisbury Museum Collections Development Policy.
Date at which this policy is due for review: July 2019
THE SALISBURY MUSEUM
HUMAN REMAINS POLICY
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Salisbury Museum has developed a human remains policy following the recommendations of the Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museum Collections, published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in October 2005.
It acknowledges the Guidance for best practice for treatment of human remains excavated from Christian burial grounds in England published by The Church of England and English Heritage (CoE/EH 2005); in particular paragraph 26:’…human remains should be treated with respect and reverence: a society that cares for the dead demonstrates that it values life.’
This policy also has regard to the Museums Association’s Code of Ethics which requires museums to: ‘Deal sensitively and promptly with requests for repatriation both within the UK and from abroad’ (Museums Association Code of Ethics 2015, 2.7).
1.2 This policy sets out how the museum curates, researches and displays the human remains in its care. It gives guidance to those seeking to submit a claim for the return of human remains as to the procedure for considering claims and the circumstances in which a claim may be accepted.
1.3 In the UK, the practice of excavating historic and prehistoric human remains, studying them and including them in museum collections is well established. These remains are of great scientific interest in the fields of:
• Human evolution and adaptation, and genetic relationships
• Population relationships through genetics and morphology
• Past demography and health
• Diet, growth and activity patterns
• Disease and causes of death
• History of disease and of medicine
• Burial practices, beliefs and attitudes
• The diversity of cultural practices in which the body and its parts are used
The museum recognises that human remains are regarded as culturally sensitive.
1.4 The museum acknowledges the definition of human remains given in the DCMS Guidelines, 2005: ‘the term human remains is used to mean the bodies, and parts of bodies, of once living people from the species Homo sapiens (defined as individuals who fall within the range of anatomical forms known today and in the recent past). This includes osteological material (whole or part skeletons, individual bones or fragments of bone and teeth), soft tissue including organs and skin, embryos and slide preparations of human tissue.’
In line with The Human Tissue Act 2004, the definition does not include hair and nails, although it is acknowledged that some cultural communities do give these a sacred importance. Human remains also include any of the above that may have been modified in some way by human skill and/or may be physically bound-up with other non-human materials to form an artefact composed of several materials. Another, but much smaller, category of material included within this definition is that of artworks composed of human bodily fluids and soft tissue.
1.5 The museum’s collections span the history and archaeology of Salisbury and south Wiltshire, from prehistoric times to the present day. They have been built up by gift, bequest and purchase since the museums foundation in 1860. It uses them for education, inspiration and enjoyment through exhibitions, loans to other museums and increasingly through its web presence. The museum currently houses the reserve collections on site (but is developing an off-site store) and is the designated repository for archaeological archives for the south of the county (the former Salisbury District Council area). These collections are used for research, mainly by external specialists. The museum is Designated by the Arts Council as having archaeology collections of outstanding national importance.
1.6 All human remains in the care of the museum are from archaeological contexts in the museum’s collecting area. These are unmodified skeletal remains and cremated remains from south Wiltshire and a few east Dorset sites excavated by archaeologists since the 19th century. They are of prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval date.
These remains are catalogued on the museum’s database and, although not available on-line, the information can be made available to bona-fide researchers on request. At time of writing, there are 452 entries of human skeletal remains on the database. The costume collection has nearly 20 artefacts incorporating human remains such as hair.
2. POLICY ON HUMAN REMAINS
2.1 Acquisition
In accordance with its Collections Development Policy and as the repository for site archives, the museum will continue to acquire human remains as long as it is satisfied that it can hold them lawfully, their provenance is known and the remains are of potential value for research. The museum expects that it will continue to acquire human remains from excavations in south Wiltshire and the transfer of these remains will be conducted in accordance with legal requirements and published professional standards of archaeological investigation. The museum does not expect to acquire human remains that are less than 100 years old which would in any event be subject to legislation set out in the Human Tissue Act 2004.
2.2 Loans
If requested by other museums, university departments or comparable academic institutions, human remains may be loaned for display, research or teaching purposes. The museum will ensure that the borrowing institution satisfies the legal, ethical and practical considerations set out in the DCMS (2005) Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums and provides written assurances. We will also ensure that these considerations are followed when we borrow human remains from other institutions. All requests for the loan of human remains will be subject to the terms of the conditions within the museum’s loans policy.
2.3 De-accessioning
Claims for the return or reburial of human remains are considered below. Human remains may be de-accessioned if they do not meet the museums collecting criteria or in response to approved claims for return. In such cases, in accordance with its status as an Accredited museum, the museum is required to satisfy itself that the remains will be dealt with appropriately.
2.4 Storage, conservation and collection management
The museum will store human remains professionally and respectfully. Premises will be secure, clean and free of vermin and the storage environment will be stable and regularly monitored. The museum aims to store all human remains in a designated area, access to which will be limited to museum staff and visitors by special arrangement. Where possible, the remains of each individual will be stored in a separate container and bones will be individually marked to aid cataloguing and identification.
Handling will be kept to a minimum and, where appropriate, conservation standard gloves will be worn. Where conservation is necessary, treatments will follow the principle of minimum intervention and be as reversible as possible. The wishes of museum staff preferring not to see and handle human remains will be respected.
2.5 Display
Salisbury Museum has displayed human remains for many years in permanent and temporary exhibitions – and has in many ways set the standard for how other museums display remains today. Visitor surveys have consistently shown that the majority of museum visitors are comfortable with museum’s displaying human remains, in fact most museum visitors expect to see human remains in archaeology displays.
Exhibiting human remains in an educational context is of benefit to the museum visitor. Careful consideration will be given to the purpose and circumstances of displaying human remains whether by the museum or by a borrowing institution. Such displays will always be accompanied by explanatory and contextual information to heighten the visitors understanding.
Where human remains form part of an exhibition, the curator will ensure they are displayed in a culturally appropriate, sensitive and informative manner. Context is important – in most cases the remains will be displayed as found – with the associated objects they were found with to show how the individual was finally laid to rest.
For human remains of the prehistoric period in Britain, the museum cannot claim to know what appropriate or sensitive modes of display are, so these remains will inevitably be displayed according to 21st-century sensitivities.
The display of artefacts containing modified remains from the ethnography collection is acceptable and is in no way a breach of any known ethics.
2.6 Access and educational use
Displays are just one of a number of ways of interpreting people and their practices represented in the museum’s collections. The museum has a duty to lead and adhere to professional standards and best practice in whatever way it decides to interpret human remains. This may include talks, school visits, lectures, tours, printed guides, books and trails, or content on the Internet.
The photography of human remains on display is permitted on the basis that the images will be for personal research and use (along with all other items displayed in the museum). Requests for the photography and filming of human remains for publication and broadcast must be approved by the Director.
2.7 Research
The museum encourages research into its collections and is the prime reason for holding human remains at the museum. The museum encourages ethical research of its human remains holdings by museum staff and external researchers. All requests for access to human remains for research purposes, including destructive sampling and analysis, must be made in writing (see Appendix 1). All requests must explain the nature of the research and expected outcomes. The museums agreement to such actions will depend on the condition of the remains, the credentials of the applicant, the merits of the project and the benefits that might accrue from it.
Those given access will be reminded of the ethical obligations with regard to human remains. In due course, researchers are expected to make the results of their research publically available by depositing them with the museum. The museum will maintain records detailing all requests as well as research carried out. This will include the project name, its research objectives, methodology, date, research results and outputs.
3. REPATRIATION, REBURIAL AND DEACCESSION
The museum presumes that its collections should stay intact for the benefit of the wider community and future generations.
Claims for repatriation or reburial will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Procedural guidance outlined in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s document Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums (2005) may be used when considering cases.
All requests for repatriation, reburial and de-accession must be submitted in writing to the Director. If any clarity regarding the request is required the Director will contact the claimant, however it is important that the claimant must establish a sound evidential base for their request. The DCMS guidance (page 27) highlights, with regards to archaeological remains from the UK, that ‘Archaeological and historical study has shown that it is very difficult to demonstrate clear genealogical, cultural or ethnic continuity far into the past, although there are exceptions to this. For these reasons it is considered that claims are unlikely to be successful for any remains over 300 years old, and are unlikely to be considered for remains over 500 years old, except where a very close and continuous geographical, religious, spiritual and cultural link can be demonstrated.’
The museum recognises that the human remains it retains might have cultural and spiritual value to many different groups. The beliefs and values of any one group will be considered in balance with other beliefs and values relating to the remains, and equal respect will be given to all beliefs and values. Human remains have important potential for research to add to our understanding of our shared past, and important potential also for public access, understanding and enjoyment. This is a view held by the majority of people in society and it will be a significant factor to consider in any request for repatriation, reburial and deaccession.
The Director is responsible for making recommendations to the board regarding repatriation, reburial and de-accession. Final approval for transfer from the museum’s possession will be subject to the museum’s Collections Development Policy and confirmation by the Board of Trustees of Salisbury Museum.
4. POLICY REVIEW
This policy will be reviewed within a period of five years and will be modified in line with any good practice or the requirements of the Laws of England that may be in force at that time.
5. REFERENCES AND LINKS
Church of England and English Heritage (2005) ‘Guidance for best practice for treatment of human remains excavated from Christian burial grounds in England’
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/human-remains-excavated-from-christian-burial-grounds-in-england/
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (2005) 'Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums'
https://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/DCMS%20Guide.pdf
Honouring the Ancient Dead
www.honour.org.uk
Human Tissue Authority (2004) ‘Human Tissue Act’
https://www.hta.gov.uk/policies/human-tissue-act-2004
ICOM (2006) ‘Code of Ethics for Museums’
http://archives.icom.museum/ethics.html
Museums Association (2015) 'Code of Ethics for Museums'
http://www.museumsassociation.org/ethics/code-of-ethics
Museum Ethnographers Group (1994) 'Professional guidelines concerning the Storage, Display, Interpretation and Return of Human Remains in Ethnographical Collections in United Kingdom Museums', Journal of Museum Ethnography 6: 22-24 and online (as 'MEG Guidelines on Management of Human Remains) at:
www.museumethnographersgroup.org.uk
Appendix 1
The Salisbury Museum
Archaeology Research Request Form
Project NameResearch Objectives
Research methodology
Dates of Research
Research results
Name of researcher
Contact Details (address, telephone number & email address)
Research Institution / Employer / Funder
I agree to provide the museum with one hard copy and one digital copy of the research results and outputs and agree to this information being published on the museum’s website.
Signature
Date of Application