Wardown Park Museum
Luton Museums Service
Old Bedford Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU2 7HA
01582546722
Website: http://www.museumsluton.com/
Parent Organisation:
Funded by:
Local Authority and Renaissance
YLM Entry Submitted: Yes
Comments:
A copy of the museum’s Human Remains Policy was sent to the HAD office (Oct 2010).
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 holds over 500 human remains in its collection. Of these, 165 are recorded as preChristian and 140 as Christian. The remainder need further investigation or have insufficient information.
Total: 500
How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?:
Around 300 are from well documented excavations.
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
Yes, and human remains are included in this.
What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?:
Currently (Oct 2010) information is being put together more coherently. There is no intention to have it online, but it would be available to the public on request.
Does the museum have ancestors (human remains) on display?:Yes
Yes, currently on display are both complete skeletons and cremations.
The museum feel that the displays are of benefit to the community of visitors. Locally, they are aware of both positive and negative responses.
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?:
Yes.
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
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