39 Ancestral Remains Returned
The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford has agreed to return 39 ancestral human remains to their homeland in northeastern India and Myanmar after a decolonisation process
The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford has agreed to return 39 ancestral human remains to their homeland in northeastern India and Myanmar. The remains, which have been held by the museum for over a century, will be accompanied home by a Naga delegation after an official handover ceremony.
The museum's Naga collection contains several thousand items, most of which were acquired during British colonial rule in India and Myanmar. The collection includes 219 items listed as human remains, with the 39 ancestral human remains being returned as part of the agreement.
The University of Oxford Council made a formal decision to return the 39 ancestral human remains to their homeland, following a request from the Naga people. The museum removed all human remains from public display in 2020 as part of a decolonisation process.
The Pitt Rivers Museum claims to hold the largest collection of Naga artefacts in the world, with many items acquired by John Henry Hutton, a colonial administrator and anthropologist, over a century ago. The return of the ancestral remains is seen as a significant step in the decolonisation process, with the Naga people believing that it will bring spiritual healing to their ancestors and community.
## Why it matters The return of the ancestral remains is a significant step towards reconciliation and healing for the Naga people. The removal of human remains from public display and their return to their homeland is a recognition of the historical injustices committed during British colonial rule. The decolonisation process is an ongoing effort to address the legacy of colonialism and to promote greater understanding and respect between cultures.
The Naga delegation will accompany the remains of their ancestors home after the official handover ceremony, marking a new chapter in the relationship between the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Naga people. The return of the ancestral remains is a positive step towards healing and reconciliation, and is seen as an important part of the museum's efforts to decolonise its collections and practices.
