The ethical and presentational issues related to the display of human remains
One of the most critical and analytical questions regarding the presentation of human remains within museums till today focuses on the ethical issues of displaying and exposure of human remains. The ethical issues include: the traditional practice of display of human remains in museums, which focuses on the gratification of public curiosity, and expands education & tourism. It also increases the body of knowledge by enabling scientists to study the remains and being able to report on scientific and historical advancements that the remains offer. Issues review the offense to ancestral and indigenous religions and allow the discussion of ownership and custodianship of remains. The issue of preserving and conserving human remains has led to the establishment of code of ethics and protocols on how to handle and house these human remains. This question is debatable although, society today accepts all display of antiquities and human remains and knowledge that results from the investigation, which far outweighs society’s criticisms.
The traditional practice of human remains in museums allows the whole community to learn and acknowledge major discoveries and investigations from prehistory, which appease public curiosity and further human knowledge. The display of human remains allows an audience to see face to face a discovery of the ages and an inhabitant of past-civilization. The lost souls of the bog are a perfect example of satisfying human curiosity and this is the reason why collections of antiquities and human remains are so important in museums.
The access to scientific investigation and studies increases our body of knowledge and extends our own ability to understand the features of a specific civilization or individual; in this case the bog bodies. It has allowed us to gain insight to areas of past civilization lifestyle, health, diet, diseases, genetics, food and nature of death. It is necessary for us to be able to access this information to allow us to draw comparisons to modern society and share recent scientific significance.
Although the presentation of human remains seems okay to many people across the world, the exposure could upset or offend the people of the culture and many other religions. The importance of cultural and indigenous wellbeing is incorporated within the presentation and management of human remains due to their special connection with the remains, even though they date back to prehistory. Certain cultures and religions don’t agree with the exposure and presentation of human remains. Major religions such as Christianity believe that the remains must be subject to a proper burial due to the belief that life is sacred. This too can also cause problems towards the ownership and custodianship of remains. Do we have the right to display human remains?
Scientists and Archaeologists have made countless strides in the preservation and conservation of human remains, being able to extract numerous amounts of data and evidence from remains of prehistory. Many people are against the presentation of these remains although; museums are the perfect places for preservation. It provides the proper environment and climatic conditions for the human remains and with the prevalent number of caretakers within the museum, the remains can be carefully conserved. Legally, the establishment of the code of ethics allows museums to adhere to the suggestions and opinions of society while, being able to present and inform viewers of the features of prehistory and it’s civilizations.
The passage of time between the death of these bog bodies and there discovery creates a relationship barrier between the owners of the remains and modern society. It distances the tie between custodianship and importance of cultural wellbeing between the remains and their ancestors, which evidently makes ownership not relevant. The loss of connection and controversy of the ownership of the remains has desensitized the people and increases the allowance and acceptance of presentation of human remains. Once again, modern society accepts all display of antiquities and human remains and knowledge that results from the investigation, which far outweighs society’s criticisms.
http://archives.icom.museum/ethics.html - International Council of Museums (ICOM) Code of Ethics {2006}
The traditional practice of human remains in museums allows the whole community to learn and acknowledge major discoveries and investigations from prehistory, which appease public curiosity and further human knowledge. The display of human remains allows an audience to see face to face a discovery of the ages and an inhabitant of past-civilization. The lost souls of the bog are a perfect example of satisfying human curiosity and this is the reason why collections of antiquities and human remains are so important in museums.
The access to scientific investigation and studies increases our body of knowledge and extends our own ability to understand the features of a specific civilization or individual; in this case the bog bodies. It has allowed us to gain insight to areas of past civilization lifestyle, health, diet, diseases, genetics, food and nature of death. It is necessary for us to be able to access this information to allow us to draw comparisons to modern society and share recent scientific significance.
Although the presentation of human remains seems okay to many people across the world, the exposure could upset or offend the people of the culture and many other religions. The importance of cultural and indigenous wellbeing is incorporated within the presentation and management of human remains due to their special connection with the remains, even though they date back to prehistory. Certain cultures and religions don’t agree with the exposure and presentation of human remains. Major religions such as Christianity believe that the remains must be subject to a proper burial due to the belief that life is sacred. This too can also cause problems towards the ownership and custodianship of remains. Do we have the right to display human remains?
Scientists and Archaeologists have made countless strides in the preservation and conservation of human remains, being able to extract numerous amounts of data and evidence from remains of prehistory. Many people are against the presentation of these remains although; museums are the perfect places for preservation. It provides the proper environment and climatic conditions for the human remains and with the prevalent number of caretakers within the museum, the remains can be carefully conserved. Legally, the establishment of the code of ethics allows museums to adhere to the suggestions and opinions of society while, being able to present and inform viewers of the features of prehistory and it’s civilizations.
The passage of time between the death of these bog bodies and there discovery creates a relationship barrier between the owners of the remains and modern society. It distances the tie between custodianship and importance of cultural wellbeing between the remains and their ancestors, which evidently makes ownership not relevant. The loss of connection and controversy of the ownership of the remains has desensitized the people and increases the allowance and acceptance of presentation of human remains. Once again, modern society accepts all display of antiquities and human remains and knowledge that results from the investigation, which far outweighs society’s criticisms.
http://archives.icom.museum/ethics.html - International Council of Museums (ICOM) Code of Ethics {2006}