General NewsNew YorkU.S. News The American Museum of Natural History Revises Custodianship of Extensive Human Remains Collection by Sophia Chen October 26, 2023 written by Sophia Chen October 26, 2023 6 comments Bookmark 41 The bones housed at the American Museum of Natural History in New York are rich with narratives, offering insights into lives spanning both time and geography. However, this vast repository of skeletal elements, one of the most frequented museums in the world, also reveals a disconcerting past: it includes specimens obtained through grave desecration, disturbed burial grounds, and collecting methods that reduced some cultures and individuals to mere curiosities. Earlier this month, the museum declared its intent to withdraw all human remains from public exhibition. The institution aims to responsibly maintain its existing collection while focusing on repatriation whenever feasible, and reverential storage when return is not an option. Currently, the museum safeguards approximately 12,000 sets of human remains. These include bones of Indigenous communities and enslaved individuals of African descent, often gathered during the 19th and 20th centuries to reinforce pseudo-scientific theories about racial hierarchies. Some of the remains in the collection were originally utilized in medical schools and likely belong to individuals who were economically disadvantaged or socially marginalized. These specimens were donated to the museum as recently as the 1940s. Sean Decatur, who became the first Black President of the American Museum of Natural History in April, stated that the majority of these remains were acquired without the explicit consent of the deceased or their descendants. Decatur remarked that there was usually a power imbalance between the collectors and the collected. The endeavor to remove human remains from public view will affect six galleries within the museum. Items to be withdrawn range from a musical instrument constructed from human bones to a Mongolian skeleton dating back over a millennium, as well as Tibetan artifacts incorporating bones. The concept of repatriating human remains and cultural artifacts is not a recent development. U.S. legislation enacted in 1990 provides a legal mechanism for certain Native tribes to reclaim ancestral remains from museums and similar establishments. According to Decatur, around 2,200 sets of remains at the museum qualify for this category. This challenge is not unique to the American Museum of Natural History. Institutions like the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have already returned over 100 human remains to pertinent communities and are in the process of repatriating others not covered by federal law. Chris Patrello, curator of anthropology at the museum, stated via email that it is essential to do more than merely recognize the damage inflicted by historical collecting practices that objectified people and cultures. As of 2022, approximately 870,000 Native American artifacts, including remains eligible for repatriation under federal law, remain in the possession of educational and cultural institutions nationwide, as reported by The Big Big News. Sean Decatur noted that some remains are thought to belong to five Black individuals whose bones were extracted from a burial site in northern Manhattan during early 1900s road construction. He underscored that the act of disturbing these burial grounds extended the denial of human dignity beyond life into death. According to Lynn Rainville, an anthropology professor at Washington and Lee University, historical plundering of Black burial sites is not uncommon, and such sites have often been disrupted due to construction and development. Additionally, the museum’s inventory includes roughly 400 bodies obtained from four New York medical schools in the 1940s. There is no evident rationale for these bodies, initially used for anatomical training, to have ended up in a museum setting. Museum officials are in communication with these schools to ascertain the provenance of these remains. The ongoing task of properly managing the museum’s stored human remains is complex and will require a considerable period, as articulated by Decatur. Decisions must be made regarding what can be returned, to whom, and how to appropriately steward those remains that must remain in the museum’s care. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Repatriation of Human RemainsWhat is the American Museum of Natural History planning to do with its collection of human remains?Who is currently leading the American Museum of Natural History and what is their stance on the issue?How extensive is the collection of human remains at the American Museum of Natural History?Are other museums also engaged in similar practices of repatriation?What U.S. law supports the repatriation of Native American remains?What types of items are being removed from display, besides skeletal remains?What is the broader context surrounding the possession of Native American remains in the U.S.?How are the museum’s officials planning to handle the remains that cannot be repatriated?More about Repatriation of Human Remains Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Repatriation of Human Remains What is the American Museum of Natural History planning to do with its collection of human remains? The American Museum of Natural History has announced that it will remove all human remains from public display. The institution intends to manage its existing collection in an ethical manner, focusing on repatriating remains when feasible and providing reverential storage when repatriation is not an option. Who is currently leading the American Museum of Natural History and what is their stance on the issue? Sean Decatur is the President of the American Museum of Natural History and is the institution’s first Black leader. He has stated that most of the human remains in the museum’s collection were acquired without the explicit consent of the deceased or their descendants. He emphasizes that there was often a power imbalance between those collecting the remains and the communities from which the remains were taken. How extensive is the collection of human remains at the American Museum of Natural History? The museum currently holds approximately 12,000 sets of human remains. These include bones of Indigenous communities and enslaved individuals, some of whom were originally used for pseudo-scientific racial theories. Are other museums also engaged in similar practices of repatriation? Yes, other museums are grappling with the issue as well. For instance, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has already returned over 100 human remains to relevant communities and is in the process of repatriating additional sets not covered by federal law. What U.S. law supports the repatriation of Native American remains? The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), enacted in 1990, provides a legal framework for certain Native tribes to reclaim ancestral remains from museums and similar institutions. What types of items are being removed from display, besides skeletal remains? In addition to skeletal remains, other items being removed include a musical instrument made from human bones, a thousand-year-old skeleton from Mongolia, and Tibetan artifacts that incorporate human bones. What is the broader context surrounding the possession of Native American remains in the U.S.? As of 2022, around 870,000 Native American artifacts, including remains that are eligible for repatriation under federal law, remain in the possession of educational and cultural institutions across the United States. How are the museum’s officials planning to handle the remains that cannot be repatriated? For the remains that cannot be returned, the museum is committed to providing ethical and respectful stewardship. The process will take some time, as officials will need to determine what can be returned and to whom, as well as how to properly care for the remains that must stay within the institution. More about Repatriation of Human Remains American Museum of Natural History Official Announcement Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Denver Museum of Nature & Science Repatriation Efforts The Big Big News Report on Native American Artifacts Washington and Lee University Anthropology Department University of Wisconsin Medical History and Bioethics You Might Be Interested In Turkey steps up airstrikes against Kurdish groups in Syria and Iraq after 12 soldiers were killed Fran Drescher says actors strike she’s leading is an ‘inflection point’ that goes beyond Hollywood Israelis block highways in nationwide protests over government’s plan to overhaul judiciary Amid Economic Turmoil, Argentinians Contemplate Empowering Anti-Establishment Populist September sizzled to records and was so much warmer than average scientists call it ‘mind-blowing’ Eight Individuals Rescued from Precarious Cable Car Situation Above a Canyon in Pakistan American Museum of Natural Historycultural sensitivityEthical StewardshipGeneral Newshuman remainsNew YorkRepatriation Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Sophia Chen Follow Author Sophia Chen is a lifestyle journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the world of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. She enjoys exploring new fashion and beauty trends, and she is always on the lookout for new products and experiences to share with her readers. previous post Residents of Acapulco Plunge into Disorder Amid Unconfirmed Impact of Hurricane next post Israeli Forces Conduct Prolonged Ground Assault on Gaza in Anticipation of Larger Offensive You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 6 comments Lisa Green October 26, 2023 - 11:08 am I’m pleased to hear they’re planning to repatriate as many remains as possible. It’s not just about removing them from display, its about returning them to where they belong. Reply Mike Davis October 26, 2023 - 4:45 pm What about the scientific value? i get the ethical concerns, but many of these remains were used in research. Are they just going to shut down all of that? Reply Robert Clark October 26, 2023 - 8:01 pm Good move but what took them so long? These practices have been questionable for decades. Ethics should come first in any institution. Reply John Smith October 26, 2023 - 9:45 pm Wow, this is a big step for the museum. About time they started treating human remains with the respect they deserve. Reply Emily Williams October 27, 2023 - 12:40 am honestly, im surprised it took this long. Human remains should’ve never been displayed like objects to begin with. Reply Sarah Johnson October 27, 2023 - 5:08 am As someone with native heritage, I can’t tell you how important this is. Our ancestors are not objects for display. It’s 2023, folks. 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