Contesting Human Remains in Museum Collections: The Crisis of Cultural Authority

185 Pages·2010·1.41 MB·English

by  Tiffany Jenkins

Contesting Human Remains
in Museum Collections
Routledge Studies in Museum Studies
1. Contesting Human Remains in
Museum Collections
The Crisis of Cultural Authority
Tiffany Jenkins
Contesting Human Remains
in Museum Collections
The Crisis of Cultural Authority
Tiffany Jenkins
New York London
First published 2011
by Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Simultaneously published in the UK
by Routledge
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© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The right of Tiffany Jenkins to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jenkins, Tiffany.
Contesting human remains in museum collections : the crisis of cultural authority /
Tiffany Jenkins.
p. cm. — (Routledge research in museum studies ; 1)
“Simultaneously published in the UK”—T.p. verso.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Human remains (Archaeology) 2. Human remains
(Archaeology)—Repatriation. 3. Museums—Collection management—
Political aspects. 4. Museums—Collection management—Moral and
ethical aspects. 5. Indigenous peoples—Antiquities—Collection and
preservation. 6. Cultural property—Political aspects. 7. Cultural property—Moral
and ethical aspects. 8. Cultural property—Repatriation. I. Title.
CC79.5.H85J46 2011
344'.093—dc22
2010015943
ISBN 0-203-84131-X Master e-book ISBN
ISBN13: 978-0-415-87960-6 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978-0-203-84131-0 (ebk)
Contents
List of Abbreviations vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1 Transforming Concerns about Human Remains into an Issue 12
2 Scientists Contest Repatriation 33
3 The Crisis of Cultural Authority 54
4 The Rise and Impact of Pagan Claims-Makers 79
5 Explaining Why Human Remains are a Problem 104
6 Covering Up the Mummies 121
Concluding Thoughts 140
Notes 147
Bibliography 149
Index 167

Abbreviations
AIAD American Indians against Desecration
BBC British Broadcasting Corporation
DCMS Department for Culture Media and Sport
HAD Honouring the Ancient Dead
MA Museums Association
TAC Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
WGHR Working Group on Human Remains
HRWGR Human Remains Working Group Report

Acknowledgments
There are many people without whom this book would not be possible. I
want to begin by thanking Claire Fox who encouraged me to research a
PhD on this subject. I am grateful to Frank Furedi, my supervisor, who was
unstinting in his support. Fellow researcher Sheila Harper kept me going,
especially when I was weary. I owe a debt of knowledge to Tony Walter and
others I met through the Centre for Death and Society at Bath University,
including Duncan Sayer and John Troyer, whose interest in archaeology,
dead bodies and death is always stimulating. The Bones Collective at the
University of Edinburgh, especially Joost Fontein, John Harries and How-
ard Williams, helped clarify my thoughts about the signifi cance of human
bones. Special thanks go to Tatiana Flessas, and members of the Working
Group on Cultural Property and Heritage Law at the London School of
Economics. Tatiana never failed to respond constructively to my thoughts
on confl icts over heritage. Richard Williams at Edinburgh University and
Stacy Boldrick from the Fruitmarket Gallery, organized helpful seminars
and presentations on museums and museology, as well as skeletons, where
I was given the opportunity to test out my ideas. Sparky students along the
way have provoked many interesting discussions in response to much of my
thinking and often forced me to reconsider my approach. I am especially
thankful to all the interviewees who took considerable time out of their
busy schedules to talk to me and answer all my questions. Bruno Water-
fi eld advised me well, in the early and later stages of this project, providing
encouraging and helpful advice. Jennie Bristow gave invaluable editorial
assistance.
Finally, I wish to thank my close friends, family, and my partner Iain
Macwhirter, all of whom were unwaveringly supportive.