Human remains have been displayed in public places for thousands of years, and the display of the remains takes place in many different cultures. Despite this, the excavation and display of human remains has always been and still remains a highly controversial issue. Human remains are the remnants of once-living people and therefore they have a significance in all human societies. As a result of this, what is considered to be respectful treatment of the remains varies greatly between different cultures and beliefs. The appropriate treatment of human remains will also vary considerably across the globe, and even within countries there will be different views on how to treat human remains. Thus, when considering whether it is ethical to display human remains there are a number of factors and ethical concerns that need to be addressed.
One factor that must be taken into consideration when deciding if it is ethical to display human remains is whether or not links can made to the dead. Jones and Harris believe that if no connections can be made to the dead, then the body should be available for scientific study. However, where connections to the dead are made, then excavation may not be acceptable, and if it is carried out, then reburial of the body would be required (Jones and Harris, 1998, p.258). Keeping and displaying human remains will allow for both current and future generations to learn from them. However, groups with close genetic or cultural relationships to the remains may feel that the display of the remains offends their beliefs regarding religion, and they often get the relevant authorities to rebury the remains or to treat them in a way that they believe to be right (Mays, 2010, p.345).
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In some cases, there are not any living ancestors that can officially claim the remains, however, there are some groups that have the best interests of or assert decent of the human remains. An example of one of these groups is the Shamanic Traditions who have formed a group that is represented by ‘honoring the ancient dead’. This organization wishes to be involved with decision making and consultation processes regarding excavation, analysis and care of the human remains, some of which date back to AD600 (Roberts, 2009, p.19-20). The Honouring the Ancient Dead group states that when a museum wants to display human remains that they should apply a consultive process to include all for whom the remains are of particular interest or importance. Another example of groups wanting a say in the processes involved with human remains can be seen in America. In the 20th century, as collections of human remains of Native Americans grew in museums, Native Americans began to speak out about it. They believed that they had a responsibility for the spiritual well-being of their ancestors. Display of the remains in museum, they felt, interfered with the afterlife and separated the spirts of the dead from the sprits of the living. In response to this, new laws were put in place that required institutions to consult with American tribes, Hawaiian organizations, and lineal descendants, regarding cultural affiliation and identification (Roberts, 2009, p.20).
There are several pieces of legislation that have been drawn up in recent years with the aim of providing guidance with regards to when it is ethical to display human remains. An example of this is the Tamaki Makau-Rau Accord, which was adopted by the World Archaeology Congress in January 2006. This legislation indicates that in order to be able to display human remains permission must be sought from the affected groups. This is most applicable to indigenous communities of the new world, as here it is easy to identify individual affected groups. However, on the other hand, in old world countries it can be difficult to establish who the effected groups are. As a result of this, the opinion of the general public is often used to provide authority (Sayer, 2010, p.96).
A factor that is often taken into consideration when deciding if it is considered ethical to display human remains is what the remains are being used for and where they are being displayed. The museum-going public seems to be behind the archaeological and scientific display of the dead. It is believed that this is because museums provide a place for them to be able to interact with the past and witness the dead bodies, and through this interaction they are able to experience their own humanity (Sayer, 2010, p.97). In Britain specifically, the majority of the public tend to approve of the display of human remains within a museum context. The results of a recent survey undertaken by the Museum of London in 2007, showed that 93% of the people surveyed approved of the display of human remains. Perhaps this indicates a need for the public to have a link to their past through the remains shown in museums. It is believed that the British public are interested in human remains, both past and present, as they can relate to it easily. Additionally, it is likely that few people in Britain have seen dead bodies before. While in some parts of the world death is seen as a part of life, for example in Mexico through the annual day of the dead festival (Roberts, 2009, pp.32-33).
In contrast to this, when human remains are displayed outside of a museum setting, such as in exhibitions, there are often more ethical concerns raised. An example of an exhibition that displays human remains for viewing by the public is Body Worlds. Body Worlds is an exhibition in which participants are informed about anatomy, physiology and health through the viewing of human bodies which have been persevered through plastination. The display of human remains in exhibitions such as Body Worlds raises further ethical concerns as it is generally seen as less respectful when compared to other displays, such as those in museums. While Body Worlds is a popular exhibition, with twenty-nine million people visiting their exhibitions between 1996 and 2009 (Sayer, 2009, p.98), some people feel that it is disrespectful as what Body Worlds does with the remains could be done using technology or models of the bodies. Furthermore, the plastination of the bodies involves the removal of some of the human tissue and replacing it with artificial polymers (Barilan, 2006, p.234), which further adds to the ethical issues surrounding exhibitions such as Body Worlds. Two of the most sensitive issues regarding the display of bodies in Body Worlds are where the bodies are sourced from and the way the bodies are displayed, i.e., in normal everyday poses. This shows that whether or not it is respectful to display human remains can also depend on both the setting in which they are being displayed and the purpose that they are being displayed for.
The age of the remains is a further factor that may be considered when deciding if it ethical to display human remains. Display of bodies that have been buried more recently may be seen by some as unethical. The family members of the deceased may still be alive, and others might have a sense of identity with the dead making excavation more difficult. On the other hand, older burials are likely to feel more distant, making display of the remains more acceptable, as it is less likely that connections will be able to be made to the deceased (Roberts, 2009, pp.18-19). In this way, it is seen as more ethical to display older bodies in comparison to bodies which were buried within approximately the last century.
Another factor that may need to be considered when deciding whether it is ethical to excavate and display human remains is the wishes of the deceased. A lot of the time these may be unknown, however, there are circumstances in which the dead have made their wishes regarding what they want done with their body very clear. On the gravestone of William Shakespeare is written: ‘Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forbear, to dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, and cursed be he that moves my bones’ (Woods, 2016). This inscription clearly states that Shakespeare does not want his body to be disturbed. While this is the case for some people, others don’t seem to mind what happens to their body when they die. For example, Sir Mortimer Wheeler said on a radio show during the 1970’s: “We do no harm to those poor chaps, when I’m dead you can dig me up 10 times for all I care” (Bahn, 1994, p.214). In order for the display of human remains to be ethical and respectful, they should follow the wishes of the deceased were these are known.
In order for the display of human remains to be perceived as ethical, some people believe that bodies should be displayed the way in which they were discovered. This includes laying the body the same way it was discovered and displaying them with any grave goods that may have been found with the bodies.
In conclusion, the display of human remains always has been and probably always will be a highly controversial issue. It is one that must take into consideration a range of ethical concerns. Connections to the dead, wishes of the deceased, what the remains are used for, where they are displayed and the age of the human remains are all factors that must be considered when deciding if the display of human remains is ethical.
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