The US has enforced NAGPRA and many indigenous remains and goods have been removed from museums and returned to the corresponding group to do with as they please.
Many indigenous people believe that the remains should be reburied. They were buried for a reason! Leave them to rest!
Museums in the UK, however, have been a little stubborn and claim that returning these remains would be a denial of knowledge to the museums' visiters. Repatriation of remains has been compared to book burning, by some!
When I began to think about this, it really got to me. I consider myself in full support of the indigenous peoples and they should have their ancestors' remains returned. But then, my background in science and anthropology leaves me with mixed emotions.
Analysis of remains takes hours of research and dedication. Researchers have learned so much about civilization growth and culture transmission. What archaeologists have learned from ancient remains is endless!
Now, if all these artifacts and remains are all returned and reburied, no one can view them and appreciate the amazing craftsmanship and preservation. I can see how this can be equated to book burning! Then, on top of that, who will protect these remains and prevent future exhumation? How are we stopping future archaeologists, 100 years from now, from digging up these reburied remains?
This hurricane of questions swept me away! What a headache! I completely understand the tug-o-war that must be going on between museums, academics, and scholars alike and the indigenous people requesting repatriation!
I found this article by Peter Dawson and colleagues that might just be the answer! (click the link below)
3D Virtual Displays as Knowledge Tools
3-D museums! Digital recreations of an artifact!
Here's a photo of some elders viewing the 3-D display... They look pretty stoked on the experience ;)
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