Stockport Story Museum
Posted August 26th, 2008 by phl.costelloe
Location:
30/31 Market PlaceLocation:
StockportLocation:
SK1 1ESTelephone:
0161 480 1460Museum Website:
Museum websiteFunding Organisation:
Local AuthorityYLM Questionnaire Completed:
YesHuman Remains Policy:
NoDisposal Policy:
YesHR On Display:
YesHR Count:
20How many human remains are in its collection, and how many of those are of ancient British provenance:
Cremated remains of approximately 10 individuals of British provenance from a Bronze Age burial site at Shaw Cairn, Stockport. 2 almost complete skeletons, 5 human skulls and a collection of mostly unidentified human remains of British provenance from a cave burial at Dowel Cave, Derbyshire.
2 mummy's hands
Human spinal column, probably for scientific research.
Some ethnographical collections which possibly contain human hair.
How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?:
Both the Shaw Cairn archive and Dowel Cave archive which include human remains are rather poorly documented. Shaw Cairn was excavated by a group of amateur archaeologists in the late 1970s and Dowel Cave was excavated in 1958. Therefore the documentation does not meet with current standards. However, we do have place of exhumation and some research was conducted on the Dowel Cave archive at the time and the Shaw Cairn archive has been recently assessed by the Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit.
Where there are human remains in store, is there a history of use?:
The history of the use of human remains is recorded from 1980s onwards. Prior to that, the documentation of their use was not kept to the same standards as it is today. Some of the remains from Dowel Cave were on display but were removed in 2004 as the service felt that they were not sensitively displayed.
Where there are human remains in store, is there potential for use, in display, education or scientific analysis?:
The Shaw Cairn archive continues to be assessed, therefore has great potential for use in research.
Does the museum have a disposal policy, and is it including HR with negligible potential in its discussions about disposal?:
Yes, the museum has a disposal policy but it does not make specific mention of human remains. However, they are in the process of producing a policy on Human Remains and the issue of disposal of human remains will be reviewed as part of this process, and written into the Acquisition and Disposal Policy, with the appropriate advice taken.
What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?:
A permanent display at the Stockport Story Museum is currently being developed and will provide information on the Shaw Cairn burials (the cremated bone will not be displayed). Regarding the Dowel Cave material, again there is a permanent display in the Stockport Story Museum with accompanying information on the excavations and the burials.
Vernon Park Museum has the mummy's hand on display with accompanying text and interpretation.
Are any of these remains currently on display and in what context?:
Two of the Neolithic skeletons from Dowel Cave are currently on display in the archaeology gallery at the Stockport Story Museum (opened in 2005). They are displayed in a cave setting as they were found by the archaeologists.
What is your opinion, and that of other Pagans or local community, of this display?:
Museum staff feel that they have been displayed sensitively.
The decision to re-display was taken following a number of focus groups on the new museum as a whole, which included questions on the display of human remains. A small visitor survey undertaken by a university work placement on the display in 2006 confirmed that visitors were happy with the display.
Does the museum hold any iconic HR, i.e. figures of local or national importance, and are these on display?:
No.
A human remains policy is in the process of being created (Nov 2008).