Museum in the Park

Posted August 26th, 2008 by phl.costelloe
Location: 
Stratford Park
Location: 
Stratford Road
Location: 
Stroud
Location: 
Gloucestershire
Location: 
GL5 4AF
Telephone: 
01453 752400
Museum Website: 
www.museuminthepark.org.uk
Funding Organisation: 
Local Authority
YLM Questionnaire Completed: 
Yes
Human Remains Policy: 
No
Comment: 

The museum does not currently have a human remains policy as such.  They are in the process of auditing our collections, including archaeology, and as part of that are attempting to conform to the DCMS Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums.

Disposal Policy: 
Yes
HR On Display: 
Yes
HR Count: 
46
HR Count Pre-Christian: 
37
Iconic HR: 
No
How many human remains are in its collection, and how many of those are of ancient British provenance: 
The museum holds 46 human remains, 80 per cent of which are of ancient British provenance.
How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?: 
Documentation varies. In the majority of cases, the approximate or specific date is known, as is the location.
Where there are human remains in store, is there a history of use?: 
Yes.
Where there are human remains in store, is there potential for use, in display, education or scientific analysis?: 
Yes.
Does the museum have a disposal policy, and is it including HR with negligible potential in its discussions about disposal?: 
There is a disposal policy which addresses the issue of human remains, although disposal of human remains is not currently under consideration.
What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?: 
There are excavation reports of the original excavators, research reports from later researchers, and museum collection records.
Are any of these remains currently on display and in what context?: 
Two skulls and one femur is currently (Oct 2010) on display in the context of local early human habitation and practices relating to death and burial.
Does the museum hold any iconic HR, i.e. figures of local or national importance, and are these on display?: 
No.