National Museums Liverpool
127 Dale Street
Liverpool
L2 2JH
01514784393
Website: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/
Additional web links: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/about/corporate/documents/human_remains_inventory.pdf
Parent Organisation:
Funded by:
National funding, plus fund-raising by in-house staff for specific projects
YLM Entry Submitted: Yes
Comments:
This draft Policy lacks any real substance. It does not tackle any of the issues in detail. However, it is currently under review and HAD have been asked to comment on the next issue, due out shortly.
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?:
See the inventory on the NML website
Total:
How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?:
As much information as possible is included on the inventory above.
Where there are ancestors in store, is there a history of use?:
For some in Vertebrate Zoology (comparative identification of skeletal material, educational resource, art resource).
Where there are ancestors in store, is there potential for use, in display, education or scientific analysis?
Ancient Egyptian mummies (display), skeletal material and tissue samples in Vertebrate Zoology for educational use. All potential is currently seen as for scientific analysis and research.
Does the museum have a disposal policy, and is it including HR with negligible potential in its discussions about disposal?:Yes
The museum’s Aquisitions and Disposal Policy (July 2007) is available from the Senior Registrar at the museum.
What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?:
A good deal is on the NML website. There is also a publication on Vertebrate Zoology skeletal material, but this only repeats what is on the website.
Does the museum have ancestors (human remains) on display?:Yes
Three Tibetan Buddhist ritual items in the context of a shrine display, developed with Tibetan Buddhists. One bone dagger with human teeth from New Guinea, in context of a New Guinea Men’s House display, developed with Papua New Guinean consultation. Six Ancient Egyptian mummies (or parts) from 5 Dec 2008, together with animal mummies.
The opinion offered to HAD from Lynne Heidi Stumpe, the Curator of Oceanic Collections at the NML, who returned this questionnaire : ‘As a Buddhist, I see the context of display as crucial and this means the physical context as well as the textual / academic one (see my forthcoming paper in the Journal of Museum Ethnography 21 (2009) on relics). From the museum’s point of view, we have had no complaints or comments on the display of human remains other than a general desire to see the Ancient Egyptian mummies. We would welcome feedback on the new AE Gallery when it opens!’
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?:
Only the Ancient Egyptian mummies – which some people seem to have developed personal relationships with (anecdotal evidence; the museum intends to do further research on this). There will be 5 complete mummies and a mummified hand in the new Ancient Egyptian Gallery.
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:
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/about/corporate/documents/human_remains_inventory.pdf
26 August, 2008
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