Bankfield Museum

Boothtown Road
Halifax
HX3 6HG

Parent Organisation:
Funded by:

Calderdale MBC

YLM Entry Submitted: Yes
Comments:

1 skull, 1 ethnographic item and a few fragments of teeth and hand bones from a barrow

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?:

3 items, 2 of which fit the category

Total: 20

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

Both pre-Christian remains were excavated form Blackheath Barrow 1898

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

Not complete history

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

Yes, displayed & potential for other

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

We have an acquisition & disposal policy. As we have very small holdings there is no specific mention of negligible use as we have none in this category and would not acquire such.

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

Findings were published by the Museum in 1906

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

The remains are a fragment of human teeth and some handbones recovered from cinerary urns found at Blackheath Barrow near Todmorden.There is also a very small amount of calcined human bone. They were excavated in 1898. We have recently had these professionally conserved and set in their own purpose made plastizote boxes. They are displayed in Todmorden Library in a case with the other items from Blackheath Barrow, cinerary urns, “incense cups”, beads, pot shards etc.

Feedback from the local communityis that the collection should remain in the Todmorden area or as close as possible. It is felt that the remains are respectfully displayed and the collection gets a lot of interest both from academics and the general public.

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?:

No

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:

26 August, 2008