Victory for humanism? Prehistoric skeletons will remain at Avebury museum
Public consultation has supported the continuation of display of prehistoric remains at Avebury Museum. This is a great victory for common sense and humanism in my opinion, and shows that so-called Druids and pagans have no more importance in these decisions than the rest of us descendents of our neolithic ancestors.
Prehistoric skeletons will remain at Avebury museum say bosses (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
Salon IFA for April wrote:
Human remains will stay at Avebury museum
An important stage in the debate about the study and display of human remains was reached on 6 April when English Heritage and the National Trust announced that ‘the public overwhelmingly supports the retention and display of prehistoric human remains in museums’. The announcement was based on the results of extensive public consultation on the issue after a group of modern Druids made a formal request in June 2006 that the human remains on display in the Avebury museum should be given to them for reburial. The Bronze Age remains are legally owned by English Heritage on behalf of the nation and the National Trust, which owns the museum, has curatorial responsibility for the management of the collection.
In responding to the Druids’ request, English Heritage undertook opinion research and a public consultation, both of which found that 90 per cent of respondents were happy that prehistoric human remains should be kept, studied and displayed in museums. The principles set out in the Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in 2005 were also applied in arriving at the decision. This guidance recommends that claims for remains over 500 years old are unlikely to be successful except where very close and continuous links can be demonstrated.
Our Fellow Dr Sebastian Payne, Chief Scientist at English Heritage, said: ‘We respect the beliefs that have led to this request, and we have taken the request seriously. These remains are important for our understanding of the past. We found that the public overwhelmingly support the retention and display of prehistoric human remains in museums, and that there is no clear evidence for genetic, cultural or religious continuity of a kind that would justify preferential status to be given to the beliefs of the group which requested reburial. While every case is different and must be determined on its merits, we feel that the general considerations given to this case are likely to apply to most prehistoric human remains in this country. We hope that other museums considering such requests in future will benefit from the evidence we have assembled and made accessible, saving them time and expense in reaching their decisions.’
Our Fellow Dr David Thackray, Head of Archaeology for the National Trust, said: ‘Some of the remains are an important part of the Museum’s exhibits, and the Museum survey shows that most visitors value this. Many of those who responded to the consultation also commented on the importance of public access and education.’
Our Fellow Professor Ronald Hutton, of Bristol University, author of works on the history of Druidism, said: ‘This decision represents the resolution of a question of great moral importance and with major practical implications, by reference to government guidelines, expert opinion, and general public opinion. All three have supported the same outcome.’
A summary report on the case and the findings of the public consultation and the opinion poll are available on the English Heritage website.
Prehistoric skeletons will remain at Avebury museum say bosses (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
Salon IFA for April wrote:
Human remains will stay at Avebury museum
An important stage in the debate about the study and display of human remains was reached on 6 April when English Heritage and the National Trust announced that ‘the public overwhelmingly supports the retention and display of prehistoric human remains in museums’. The announcement was based on the results of extensive public consultation on the issue after a group of modern Druids made a formal request in June 2006 that the human remains on display in the Avebury museum should be given to them for reburial. The Bronze Age remains are legally owned by English Heritage on behalf of the nation and the National Trust, which owns the museum, has curatorial responsibility for the management of the collection.
In responding to the Druids’ request, English Heritage undertook opinion research and a public consultation, both of which found that 90 per cent of respondents were happy that prehistoric human remains should be kept, studied and displayed in museums. The principles set out in the Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in 2005 were also applied in arriving at the decision. This guidance recommends that claims for remains over 500 years old are unlikely to be successful except where very close and continuous links can be demonstrated.
Our Fellow Dr Sebastian Payne, Chief Scientist at English Heritage, said: ‘We respect the beliefs that have led to this request, and we have taken the request seriously. These remains are important for our understanding of the past. We found that the public overwhelmingly support the retention and display of prehistoric human remains in museums, and that there is no clear evidence for genetic, cultural or religious continuity of a kind that would justify preferential status to be given to the beliefs of the group which requested reburial. While every case is different and must be determined on its merits, we feel that the general considerations given to this case are likely to apply to most prehistoric human remains in this country. We hope that other museums considering such requests in future will benefit from the evidence we have assembled and made accessible, saving them time and expense in reaching their decisions.’
Our Fellow Dr David Thackray, Head of Archaeology for the National Trust, said: ‘Some of the remains are an important part of the Museum’s exhibits, and the Museum survey shows that most visitors value this. Many of those who responded to the consultation also commented on the importance of public access and education.’
Our Fellow Professor Ronald Hutton, of Bristol University, author of works on the history of Druidism, said: ‘This decision represents the resolution of a question of great moral importance and with major practical implications, by reference to government guidelines, expert opinion, and general public opinion. All three have supported the same outcome.’
A summary report on the case and the findings of the public consultation and the opinion poll are available on the English Heritage website.
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