Museum of London
Posted August 26th, 2008 by phl.costelloe
Location:
London WallLocation:
LondonLocation:
EC2Y 5HNLocation:
The museum is located on the south west edge ofLocation:
the Barbican Centre.Museum Website:
MoL WebsiteFunding Organisation:
MoL is primarily funded by the City Corporation of London and the Greater London Authority. It also receives funding through grants and sponsorships from a variety of other sources. Of particular significance in the context of HAD’s work, is funding from the Wellcome Trust (2003-2007) and the Spitalfields Development Group (2003-2006) that was used to analyse and catalogue the museum’s human remains.YLM Questionnaire Completed:
YesHuman Remains Policy:
YesDisposal Policy:
YesHR On Display:
YesHR Count:
17000How many human remains are in its collection, and how many of those are of ancient British provenance:
The museum currently has approximately 17,000 skeletons. Unlike many other museums in which human remains have been intentionally unearthed and collected, these human remains are primarily the result of disturbance caused by development in the City of London and Greater London areas (‘rescue archaeology’). The research collection includes 20 cremation burials of Bronze Age date and ten times that number of Romano-British cremation burials. Among the Roman inhumations, the museum asserts that they currently have no knowledge as to whether individuals were Christian or not.
How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?:
Staff at MoL are currently analysing these human remains for characteristics like age, sex, stature and the presence of various health indicators and diseases. Any human remains that are collected by the Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) also have detailed information about place of exhumation, context, and any associated artefacts. At present, approximately 11,000 have been analysed. This information has been recorded on a database which is available online (see below).
Where there are human remains in store, is there a history of use?:
As previously noted, the human remains held at MoL are currently undergoing scientific analysis. This work is considered to be particularly significant because this ‘collection’ represents one of the largest in the world from a single urban environment over such a long time period (approximately 2,000 years). Analysis might, therefore, contribute to our understanding of the region and its history, including health and disease. Use of human remains at MoL must comply with the museum’s human remains policy and is overseen by the Human Remains Working Group.
Where there are human remains in store, is there potential for use, in display, education or scientific analysis?:
In its permanent exhibitions the museum has 12 human skulls and two skeletons on display, primarily in its London Before London exhibit. All are of pre-Christian origin. As noted above, human remains are also used for research purposes. The museum is also involved in educational activities – for example, it contributes to the teaching of courses at the University of London Birkbeck.
MoL has also provided the human remains (26 skeletons) for Skeletons: London’s Buried Bones. These remains are on display at the Wellcome Collection building on Euston Road in London (23 July – 28 September 2008).
Does the museum have a disposal policy, and is it including HR with negligible potential in its discussions about disposal?:
Human remains held at MoL are subject to an ongoing evaluation of their research value. Those deemed to be of low value are reburied on land provided by the City Corporation of London.
Over the past several decades, the museum has reburied approximately 20,000 human remains after they have been disturbed during development – sometimes almost immediately, but usually after analysis has been carried out. In the past two years, MoL has also reburied approximately 1,000 human remains from its own holdings that have been deemed to be of low scientific value.
As with the research undertaken at many museums, staff are reluctant to rebury remains – even after analysis – because future scientific and technological developments might make further analysis possible.
Staff at MoL also noted that limited and expensive burial space in London may introduce limits on future reburials.
What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?:
Detailed information about the human remains held at MoL is available online at the website of the museum’s Centre for Human Bioarchaeology (http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/chb). This website also provides links to the Wellcome Osteological Research Database (WORD).
Archaeological information on these human remains can also be accessed through the London Archaeological Archive Research Centre (LAARC, http://www.museumoflondonarchaeology.org.uk/English/ArchiveResearch)
Are any of these remains currently on display and in what context?:
As previously noted, the museum has 12 human skulls and two skeletons on permanent display, primarily in its London Before London exhibit.
One partial skeleton is of ‘Shepperton Woman’ and is dated to 3640-3100BC. Signage indicates that it has been lent to the museum by the Surrey County Archaeology Unit. Both skeletons are displayed in glass cases with bones laid out neatly in a standard museum format.
Most of the skulls have been labelled and placed on wall mountings of shelves in display cases. They have all also been ‘inked’ on the forehead with an accession number (in accordance with 'Good Museum Practice').
The final two skulls are part of a medium sized case that presents a variety of different items thought to have been offerings. These two skulls have been placed amongst an assortment of other items, including jewellery, pots and small statuettes.
What is your opinion, and that of other Pagans or local community, of this display?:
HAD has submitted concerns about the lack of respect in terms of their display of human remains.
Does the museum hold any iconic HR, i.e. figures of local or national importance, and are these on display?:
Shepperton Woman is considered by some to be iconic.
Policy for the Care of Human Remains
The museum's Policy is dated September 2006 and clearly states its remit to rebury all the Human Remains in its care where no further scientific value is likely.