University of Aberdeen Museums
Museums and Special Collections
The Sir Duncan Rice Library
Bedford Road
Aberdeen
AB24 3AA
01224274307
Website: https://calm.abdn.ac.uk/museums/
Parent Organisation:
Funded by:
University
YLM Entry Submitted: Yes
Comments:
See our museum database at https://calm.abdn.ac.uk/museums. The University cares for a large number of human remains, including those from Scotland. The latter mainly consists of those from excavated medieval contexts in Scottish burghs, but also prehistoric/early medieval burials (e.g., Neolithic Orkney, Beaker-associated burials and early medieval inhumations).
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?:
(HAD – 100 entered as a guess/proxy, UAM quotes ‘large number’ only)
Total: 100
How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?:
Most have such documentation
Where there are ancestors in store, is there a history of use?:
Yes
Where there are ancestors 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?:Yes
The museum has a Collection Development Policy, available online (see https://www.abdn.ac.uk/museums/about/policies.php), which includes a procedure for responding to proposals for repatriation and deaccessioning.
What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?:
The Collection Catalogue is openly accessible online at https://calm.abdn.ac.uk/museums.
Does the museum have ancestors (human remains) on display?:No
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?:
There is currently no permanent display of the archaeological collections. The inclusion of human remains in a permanent display would be discussed as a part of an ethical review of an exhibition, potentially including community consultation
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?:
If relevant, this would be considered as part of exhibition planning.
Documents:
https://www.honour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/formidable/2/YLM-Questionnaire-2022-UOA-Museums.doc
19 June, 2022
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