Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums
This document provides guidance for museums and other institutions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that hold human remains in permanent collections.
Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Documents
Details
This document provides guidance for museums and other institutions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that hold human remains in permanent collections. It was also issued in support of Section 47 of the Human Tissue Act 2004 that allows nine named national museums to de-accession human remains under 1000 years old. The guidance is divided into three parts: Part 1 gives a legal and ethical framework for the treatment of human remains; Part 2 deals with the curation, care and use of remains; Part 3 provides a framework for handling claims for the return of remains.
Attention is drawn to the fact that Page 9, Glossary and Interpretations, states that hair and nails are excluded from the definition of human remains for these purposes. This is incorrect. For the purposes of the Guidance, the definition of human remains does include hair and nails, in line with the Human Tissue Act 2004.