Policy document for the strategic development of …

                   Policy document for the strategic development of
                                            The Manchester Museum




                         POLICY ON HUMAN
                         REMAINS




Endorsed by:       The University of Manchester Senior Executive Team

Date for review:   June 2010


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Policy Statement

This policy is the result of a rigorous public consultation process in which
archaeologists, museum professionals, academics, scientists, heritage and faith-
based organisations and the Museum's Community Advisory Panel all had the
opportunity to comment on an earlier draft. All responses were read and taken
into consideration, and either incorporated into the policy itself, or, in this policy
statement, we explain the rationale for our views.

The Manchester Museum recognizes the value of human remains in museums
for learning about past peoples ­ treated appropriately and respectfully, the
inclusion of human remains in research, educational and display programmes
can be a positive benefit to a wide range of audiences.

We are fully aware that the resulting policy goes beyond the recommendations of
the DCMS guidelines (Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums,
published in 2005) and there are good reasons for this. There is growing interest
in the fate of human remains among many communities. What are valued as
human remains in many communities go beyond the strict scientific definition
contained in the DCMS guidelines and we believe that any consultation should
be extended to include those alternative views.

The Manchester Museum is committed to developing ethical, reciprocal and
sustainable relationships. In particular we believe that the more rigorous
standards that have developed from our relationship with non-UK originating
communities, for example indigenous Australians, should be applied across the
board to include all human remains no matter what their provenance. Therefore
we see no distinction between what have previously been defined as `contested'
or `uncontested' human remains.

It is well known that there can be no ownership of human remains, only custody.
The growing interest in human remains among many communities ­ who form
the audiences and stakeholders of museums ­ means that the care,
interpretation and decisions about use and retention can, ethically, no longer be
left simply to the museum, archaeological and scientific communities alone.

The Manchester Museum has in the past unconditionally repatriated indigenous
human remains to Australia and New Zealand, and fully recognises the claims of
originating communities and descendants in these instances. A more broadly
based decision-making process now needs to be put in place for human remains
without modern genealogical and cultural descendants, which sees human
remains found or stored in a particular area as the collective responsibility of all
that area's modern residents. Some groups will inevitably have a greater interest
in certain types of human remains, but no one group or individual has any special
claim to guardianship of them. Nevertheless it must be acknowledged that the
Museum is accountable for the proper care and management of its collection to


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the University of Manchester's Board of Governors. Following any consultation
the Museum can make a recommendation, for example about repatriation or
reburial, but the final decision will lie with the Board of Governors.

At the Manchester Museum we intend to involve, as far as is achievable, all
interested groups in the consultation process, including the growing migrant and
refugee communities, because we feel it is the right of everyone to feel a
connection to the people who lived here before them. Human remains should be
treated primarily as the antecedents of all the current residents of the area. The
Museum will therefore be pro-active in consulting with a wide range of views over
the management of human remains in the collection. This should be seen as a
positive approach to social inclusion, enabling people to become more involved
in local heritage and collections, and through this to develop an interest in the
landscape and identity of their home.




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1.0 The Museum and The University
1.1    The Mission of The University of Manchester
"To make The University of Manchester, already an internationally distinguished
centre of research, innovation, learning and scholarly inquiry, one of the leading
universities of the world by 2015."

1.2    The Strategic Plan of The University of Manchester
There are nine strategic goals identified in the University's Strategic Plan,
Towards Manchester 2015. The Museum is committed to realizing its potential
to play its part in achieving all the University's corporate goals:

       Goal 1 High international standing
       Goal 2 World class research
       Goal 3 Exemplary knowledge and technology transfer
       Goal 4 Excellent teaching and learning
       Goal 5 Widening participation
       Goal 6 A collegial culture
       Goal 7 Efficient, effective management
       Goal 8 Internationally competitive resources
       Goal 9 More effective community service

1.3    The Mission of The Manchester Museum
The Human Remains Policy is consistent with the mission of the Museum, which
states that:

"As a university museum, the Manchester Museum uses its international
collection of human and natural history for enjoyment and inspiration, working
with people to provoke debate and reflection about the past, present and future
of the earth and its inhabitants"


1.4    The Vision of The Manchester Museum
We aim to be the leading university museum in the world by 2010

We will:

   ·   Re-think the role of a global museum in the 21st century by engaging
       people with the issues of globalisation, post-colonialism, climate change,
       biodiversity and sustainability




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  ·   Be a laboratory for museum practice, reflecting on and disseminating our
      experience

  ·   Contribute strongly to the teaching and research activities of the
      university, and to its civilising mission around ethical citizenship and
      creativity

  ·   Be a fundamental place of reciprocal engagement between the University
      and the public

  ·   Develop our distinctive role in the cultural life of the region and nation

  ·   Be realistic and ethical in all that we do


2.0 Purpose of the policy
      The Manchester Museum ("the Museum") acknowledges that human
      remains were once parts of living persons and will care for them in a
      respectful manner while accepting that what constitutes respect varies
      from culture to culture. The Museum will make the collection available for
      research, learning and teaching where appropriate and in appropriate
      ways. The Museum endorses Guidance for the Care of Human Remains
      in Museums published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
      (DCMS 2005) and acknowledges the Guidance for best practice for
      treatment of human remains excavated from Christian burial grounds in
      England published by The Church of England and English Heritage
      (CoE/EH 2005); in particular paragraph 26:

             "...human remains should be treated with respect and reverence: a
      society that cares for the dead demonstrates that it values life."

      This Policy and its implementation will be managed and monitored by the
      Human Remains Panel chaired by the Head of Collections Management
      and including representation from all areas of Museum activity. Any major
      issues such as use of human remains in display or for disposal will be
      subject to wide-spread external consultation.

3.0 Definition of human remains
      Human remains include the bodies of people who lived thousands of years
      ago, and of those who have died within recent or living memory. The
      Museum uses the term human remains to mean the bodies, and parts of
      bodies, of once living people. These are most commonly regarded as
      being confined to members of the species Homo sapiens. The Museum
      recognizes that some communities feel a local or ancestral connection to


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    other ancestors not classified by scientists as Homo sapiens. The
    Museum will respond positively to all requests for consultation over these
    remains.

    The Museum extends the definition of human remains given in the DCMS
    guidelines to cover osteological material (whole or part skeletons,
    individual bones or fragments of bone and teeth), ashes, soft tissue
    including organs and skin, blood, hair, embryos and slide preparations of
    human tissue.

    Human remains also include any of the above which have been modified
    in some way by human skill and/or may be physically bound-up with other
    non-human materials to form an artefact composed of several materials.

    The definition of human remains excludes casts used for research,
    teaching and storage but does apply to the interpretation of casts (see
    below).

4.0 Definition of appropriate communities

    The Museum acknowledges the interests of genealogical descendants
    and cultural communities as defined in DCMS 2005 (page 9 and section
    3.3.2), and of the scientific, academic and archaeological communities.
    However, the Museum also recognises the interests of contemporary
    adherents of ancient faiths ­ for example Christians, Jews or Pagans ­
    and local communities from where human remains were excavated, as
    recognised in CoE/EH 2005 (paragraphs 18, 77 and 86). No one group or
    individual has any special claim to guardianship of human remains, but
    some groups will inevitably have a greater interest in certain types of
    remains. As far as is practical, all interested communities should have an
    opportunity to be consulted when decisions are taken regarding the
    management of all human remains, and the Museum will attempt to
    consult with all known interested parties and will develop a consultation
    network.


5.0 Description/inventory of holdings
    The Museum cannot legally own human remains except where these
    remains have been treated or altered through the application of skill.
    However, the Museum recognises the ethical responsibilities invested in it
    through possession of such remains. The Museum is committed to
    treating all human remains in an ethical and socially responsible manner.

    The Museum holds human remains by virtue of the historic nature of the
    collection it cares for. The Museum believes in being open about the


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    contents of the collection and in making information available to all
    enquiries. The Museum has identified human remains currently stored in
    the following collection areas: Anthropology, Archaeology, Egyptology,
    Palaeontology and Zoology

    The Museum maintains full details of its holdings in a printable format. All
    human remains are included in the databases on the Museum's website
    (www.manchester.ac.uk/museum). This includes the following data:

       1. Numbers of remains: usually individual items, but may group larger
          assemblages or series
       2. Physical nature: for example, whether skeletal, slide preparation,
          etc., completeness and physical condition
       3. Date: estimated date or period of death
       4. Provenance: where the remains originated from, including cultural
          affiliation if known and any known context of recovery or
          subsequent history
       5. Status within collection: whether fully accessioned, and if so the
          accession number(s), or loan from another institution or individual,
          and if so the date, period and purpose of the loan

    As part of its documentation procedures the Museum will maintain a
    publicly accessible research register detailing all requests as well as
    research carried out. This will be stored on the Museum's collection
    management system and provide a link between the individual items of
    human remains and the research request. The register will list:

           1.   Project name
           2.   Research objectives
           3.   Research methodology
           4.   Dates of research
           5.   Research results
           6.   Outputs ­ publications and data holdings

6.0 Consultation and consent
       Human remains are not neutral objects; the categories of human
       remains in the Museum are:

           ·    identifiable human remains claimed by genealogical
                descendants or those of a comparable status
           ·    human remains claimed by cultural descendants or concerned
                parties
           ·    human remains unclaimed by genealogical or cultural
                descendants



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      In accordance with the Museums Association's Code of Ethics the
      Museum will:

         "Respect the interests of originating communities with regard to
         elements of their cultural heritage present or represented in the
         museum. Involve originating communities, wherever practical, in
         decisions about how the museum stores, researches, presents or
         otherwise uses collections and information about them."

                            (Museums Association Code of Ethics 2002, 7.5)

      Where there is genealogical descent or continuing cultural affiliation,
      consent of appropriate communities will be sought for any programmes
      which involve those human remains. The guiding principles for
      consent are that it is never assumed nor is it granted in perpetuity.

      In all other cases, irrespective of biological ancestry, widespread
      consultation will take place on acquisition, retention, display and
      reburial. The Museum will be proactive in consulting with communities
      who may include faith groups active locally, regionally or nationally,
      academic, scientific, heritage and culture-related community groups
      and general representatives of the local population. Since these can be
      contentious issues where there may be no consensus, the Museum
      retains the right to make final decisions: these will be based on ethical
      judgement, cultural views on what constitutes respectful treatment,
      measurable benefits and the needs of different communities.


7.0 Acquisition of human remains
      Both because of the rarity of opportunity and ­ in the case of
      archaeological remains from the north-west of England ­ because of
      the general lack of preservation, the acquisition and permanent
      retention of human remains by the Museum should be an exceptional
      circumstance, and based on measurable benefits following widespread
      consultation. All acquisitions of human remains will be made with
      reference to the Museum's Acquisition and Disposal Policy. The
      Museum will make the final decision following full and open
      consultation with appropriate communities, as defined above. This
      decision will be based upon the benefits of those human remains to the
      Museum's programmes and communities, as governed by the
      Museum's Acquisition and Disposal Policy and Guidelines for the
      Transfer of Archaeological Archives, and will take into account the
      wider interests of those consulted.

8.0 Incoming loans

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      For all incoming loans for display the content, interpretation and
      marketing of the exhibition will be discussed by the exhibition proposer
      and the Human Remains Panel.

      All incoming loans for research will be subject to the approval of the
      Human Remains Panel.

      Loans of contested or identifiable human remains will only be made
      after due process of consultation and consent with appropriate
      communities, as specified above.

9.0 Outgoing Loans
      All outgoing loans of human remains will be subject to approval of the
      Human Remains Panel following approval by the Museum's Loans
      Panel. Loans of human remains from contemporary originating
      communities will only be made after due process of consultation and
      consent with those communities.

10.0 Research, learning and teaching
      All requests for teaching and research, including sampling and
      analysis, must be made by completing the Museum's Human Remains
      Research, Sampling and Analysis Request Form (Appendix 1).

      Where research access is granted the Museum will ensure that all
      researchers are reminded of the Museum's and their own ethical
      obligations with regard to human remains and that they are provided
      with written guidelines and receive appropriate training in handling
      human remains from the Museum's conservators.

      All research samples will be treated as a loan for a fixed period and will
      be subject to a separate loan agreement. A complete record of the
      material analysed, the outcome of the analysis, and the resulting
      research, including copies of all publications, will be returned to the
      Museum by a specified date. All samples must be returned to the
      Museum by a specified date. If they are to be altered into a form which
      the Museum is unable to curate any alternative place of deposit must
      be agreed upon prior to approval of the request.

      Research and sampling of human remains from contemporary
      originating communities will only be made after due process of
      consultation and consent with those communities.




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       The Museum reserves the right to seek external academic advice prior
       to approving any request for sampling and analysis; such consultation
       may increase the time before a decision can be made. Research
       requests will be granted only when the research questions and results
       are likely to produce measurable benefit.

11.0 Exhibition and display
       Where human remains form part of an exhibition, either long or short-
       term, they will be displayed in a culturally appropriate, sensitive and
       informative manner and always accompanied by explanatory and
       contextual interpretation. The Museum commits itself to an ongoing
       programme of adapting older displays to fit in with these principles.

       Display of human remains will only be made after due process of
       consultation and consent with appropriate communities, as specified
       above.

       Human remains will only be referred to by a proper name where the
       proper name of an individual is known or the name of a cultural or
       historical group or archaeological site is to be used. For example,
       Lindow Man.

       The Museum will not display and interpret casts of human remains in
       ways which would be inappropriate for non-cast human remains.

12.0 Images
       All images of human remains in the Museum and on the Museum's
       website will be in context with appropriate accompanying
       interpretation.

       Access to images of human remains from contemporary originating
       communities will only be made after due process of consultation with
       those communities.

       All requests for use of images of human remains, or filming within the
       Museum will be made on the Filming and Photography Request Form
       and submitted to the Human Remains Panel for approval.


13.0 Storage
       The Museum acknowledges that there is no single solution on storage
       of human remains. Some originating communities specify that human



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       remains should be stored separately from grave goods and other
       human remains, while others specify that human remains and
       contextual material should always be kept together. As an interim
       measure all human remains will be stored separate from other items in
       dedicated areas within the Museum, and this will be reviewed at the
       end of the two-year lifetime of this policy.

       All accessioned human remains will be stored in boxes marked with
       Accession Number and other identification or description as agreed
       through consultation with appropriate communities, as specified above.

       All loaned human remains will be stored in boxes marked with the loan
       number and other identification or description as agreed through
       consultation with appropriate individuals.

14.0 Physical access procedures
       Requests for physical access to all human remains must be made in
       writing to the Head of Collections Management and be subject to
       approval by the Human Remains Panel.

       In culturally sensitive circumstances alternative access arrangements
       can be made.

15.0 Deaccession, repatriation and reburial
       The Museum will be proactive in discussing the possible repatriation
       and reburial of human remains with indigenous originating
       communities and enter into full consultation with the appropriate
       claimants, named individuals and next of kin. The Museum commits
       itself to consideration of and consultation on all other requests which
       fall outside those narrow definitions. Claims for repatriation and
       reburial will be determined on a case by case basis following
       consultation with appropriate communities as defined above.

       In keeping with the Museum's Acquisition and Disposal Policy and
       good collections management practice, the Museum will monitor use of
       human remains with regards to teaching, learning, research and
       display.

       All requests for deaccession, repatriation and reburial must be
       submitted in writing to the Director of The Manchester Museum.
       Following widespread consultation with the appropriate communities
       (see above, Section 4), the Human Remains Panel will make a
       recommendation to the Director. The final approval for transfer from
       the Museum's possession is subject to confirmation by the Board of


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Governors of The University of Manchester, the Museum's governing
body.




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