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Museum of Scotland to return Aboriginal and Maori remains

17 January 2008 - The Scotsman - A TASMANIAN skull and a collection of Maori remains that have been in the archives of the Museum of Scotland for more than 100 years are to be returned to Australia and New Zealand.

Trustees of National Museums Scotland have agreed to return the artifacts, which have not been shown to the public for decades, to the Australian and New Zealand governments to put on display.

The decision was made following a request from officials in Australia to repatriate the Tasmanian skull, which is currently only accessible to scholars and archeology experts for research.

The remains will be returned to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, which is designated to be the receivers of all Tasmanian remains.

The trustees have also agreed to repatriate ten items to the National Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa Tongarewa – including four Maori skulls and two jaw bones currently in the NMS's collections.

Four tattooed Maori heads, which are currently on long-term loan to the Te Papa museum, will also be gifted permanently under the move.

Dr Gordon Rintoul, director of National Museums Scotland, said: "We considered these individual cases very carefully, looking at the moral, cultural and scientific arguments as well as recent practice in this sensitive area of human remains. This has resulted in our agreement to return these items to their native cultures.

"We have maintained positive dialogue with the institutions involved over a period of time and are appreciative of their co-operation in resolving these complex issues.

"Those items which are still in Scotland will be returned within the next few months, on a date to suit the recipient parties."

Due to tight restrictions on transferring objects from the National Museums Scotland collections, trustees had to seek permission from the Minister of Europe, External Affairs and Culture – who was required to designate the Australian Government and the Te Papa Tongarewa museum as bodies that could receive material from the NMS.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre is currently in negotiations with museums and governments across the world to repatriate artifacts to Australia.

It is attempting to collect all human remains that originally came from the island in order to preserve them for future generations to study.

The Australian Government has also made a further request for the repatriation of another six other skulls of Australian aborigines which remain in NMS collections.

The new request will be considered by trustees within the coming months.

The full article contains 410 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.

Source: The Scotsman

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