Glasgow museums remove mummified remains from public view over ethical concerns
0 / 31
English
中文
Lady Shep-En-Hor's sarcophagus on display at The Hunterian Museum in Glasgow Two museums in Glasgow have removed the remains of Egyptian mummies from display over ethical concerns.
（暂无翻译）
The mummified corpse of the priest Nekht was taken out of public view at Kelvingrove Gallery, while The Hunterian Museum has covered Lady Shep-En-Hor's body in a specially designed textile to protect it from being seen by visitors.
（暂无翻译）
The institutions said the decisions followed a reassessment of their duty of care towards the deceased.
（暂无翻译）
It comes after the International Council of Museums (Icom) revised its code of ethics, recommending that the "inherent dignity" of human remains be upheld.
（暂无翻译）
Both museums said they would consider repatriation of the remains should they receive an approach from a country or institution.
（暂无翻译）
Despite the new code of ethics, there is no uniform approach across Scotland's museum sector with different institutions given leeway on how to implement it.
（暂无翻译）
A spokesperson for National Museums Scotland (NMS) said it was not considering any changes to the display of human remains in its collection.
（暂无翻译）
NMS has a large collection of Scottish archaeological remains, external as well as mummified people from Egypt and Peru.
（暂无翻译）
Why has Kelvingrove Museum removed its Egyptian mummies?
（暂无翻译）
Glasgow Life, which manages Kelvingrove, said it had taken the decision to remove the painted coffin containing the remains of Nekht in the "absence of consent from the deceased individual or their ancestors".
（暂无翻译）
Nekht is thought to have lived at some point between 1985 and 1797 BC and was excavated at Beni Hasan in Middle Egypt during digs carried out in the early 20th century.
（暂无翻译）
The remains were donated to the city of Glasgow in 1923.
（暂无翻译）
The Hunterian Museum said the elaborate sarcophagus would remain on display but the body of Lady Shep-En-Hor' would be covered A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said the withdrawal of the remains "reflected contemporary museum practice".
（暂无翻译）
They added a new draft human remains policy proposed that they were only displayed "where there is documented and informed consent from the deceased individual or, in appropriate circumstances, their descendants".
（暂无翻译）
They said a parliamentary group on African repatriation had highlighted "ethical concerns" over the display of such remains due to the "constant disregard" of potential wishes and intentions of ancestors who buried them.
（暂无翻译）
A mummified male head, right foot and a right hand recovered from the Valley of the Kings in Luxor were also taken out of public view.
（暂无翻译）
The spokesperson added: "We believe removing ancient Egyptian human remains from display is more respectful to the deceased individuals."
（暂无翻译）
Kelvingrove Museum removed mummified Egyptian remains from its display because it was not possible to obtain consent from the deceased or their family Meanwhile, The Hunterian said it had sought advice from Egyptologists before protecting Lady Shep-En-Hor's remains as part of a "commitment to becoming a more ethical institution".
（暂无翻译）
A spokesperson for the museum, managed by the University of Glasgow, said the conclusion of that consultation led to the view Lady Shep-En-Hor "deserved privacy in death".
（暂无翻译）
Her ornate sarcophagus, which has been on display almost continuously since 1820, will remain on public view as a "fine work of late period ancient Egyptian funerary art".
（暂无翻译）
Lady Shep-En-Hor has never been removed from the coffin, but has been X-rayed and CT scanned in the last 50 years.
（暂无翻译）
In the 1970s, several theories were put forward questioning whether the remains in the coffin were actually those of Lady Shep-En-Hor.
（暂无翻译）
The Hunterian said excavators in the 19th century occasionally swapped over remains from different coffins, with better preserved specimens placed in the most intact or ornate sarcophagi.
（暂无翻译）
The Icom code, which was revised in June, states museums should "uphold the inherent dignity of human remains and promote respect for their significance".
（暂无翻译）
It adds: "Decisions about these items and collections should be made in collaboration with descendants or communities from which they originate, if known."
（暂无翻译）
Prof Steph Scholten, who sits on the Icom ethics committee, said the code was intended as guidance and the final decision ultimately rested with each individual institution.
（暂无翻译）
He added: "What the code of ethics puts forward is that these topics need careful consideration and decision making, they do not suggest one fixed outcome.
（暂无翻译）
"Kelvingrove and The Hunterian have come to slightly different outcomes about our displays.
（暂无翻译）
"The code of ethics does not prescribe that all human remains should be taken of display."
（暂无翻译）
Is it ever ethical for museums to display human remains?
（暂无翻译）
Glasgow university returns human remains to South Africa
（暂无翻译）
仅供学习使用，如有侵权请联系删除 · 查看原文