YLM Database

Totnes Elizabethan Museum

70 Fore Street
Totnes
Devon
TQ9 5RU

01803863821
Website: http://www.devonmuseums.net/23/217/museum.html

Parent Organisation:
Funded by:

Charitable Trust

YLM Entry Submitted: Yes
Comments:

How many human remains are in its collection, and how many of those are of ancient British provenance, pre-Christian or in other way Pagan?:

The museum has one incomplete collection of human remains from one young individual. The date of burial was 2nd century CE.

Total: 1

How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?:

The remains were discovered in 1960 at Court Farm, Woodleigh, near Kingsbridge, presumably by building work. It was a cist grave along with a ceramic vessel typical for a burial of this kind. There is no record of geographical orientation or the ceramic vessel. There is also no record as to how the remains came into the care of the museum which was opened in 1962, acquiring the historic collection from the Antiquarian Society; there are no living survivors from that period. The burial was recorded by photograph, but there is no map reference. It has an accession number of TOTEH 2009.023 for full museum recording.

Where there are ancestors in store, is there a history of use?:

Where there are ancestors in store, is there potential for use, in display, education or scientific analysis?

Does the museum have a disposal policy, and is it including HR with negligible potential in its discussions about disposal?:Yes

The museum’s policy is in accordance with the DCMS’ Guidance for the Care of Human Remains Policy.

What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?:

Information is available to enquirers.

Does the museum have ancestors (human remains) on display?:Yes

The individual is on display.

The museum has an unusually high number of Pagan visitors (and staff) for a variety of reaons and none have expressed discomfort at the remains or th eway they are displayed.

Does the museum hold any iconic ancestors, ie. complete skeletons with a well documented story, or those considered of national or local importance, and are these on display?:

The individual may be considered iconic.

Has the museum used or considered using replicas in displays? If not, why not and what would you find useful in moving to these? If you have, what response did these receive?:

Documents:

5 October, 2010