Theme:
4. People of the Present – Peopling the Past
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
From What Things Are to What Things Ought to Be: Ethical Concerns on Archaeological and Forensic Human Remains
Content:
Human remains have always played a fundamental role in the knowledge of human societies, and the ethical concerns regarding the treatment of the former have come a long way. However, there is still room for debate. Currently, experts are still experiencing situations where archaeological human remains are considered mere archaeological material, leaving aside their dimension as individuals. This contrasts with the cognizance of human remnants in the forensic field, whose dimension of humanity is unquestioned. Therefore, the chronological proximity between the living and the dead seems to be a determining feature. Throughout history, measures have been developed to protect the human essence of skeletal remains, despite no universal protocol ever having been established that takes into account a wider chronological and cultural range. The aim of this session is to delve into the ethics surrounding the handling of human remains, bearing in mind the perceptual differences between ancient and modern remains. The session may include presentations on the comparison of the treatment of remains according to their ascribed chronology; research on how the state of preservation of human remains influences the way they are managed (e.g., mummified bodies); studies on the ethics of sampling. methods of analysis and their implications (e.g., facial reconstruction); the role of the archaeological discipline in cultural appropriation phenomena; and dissemination tools and their impact on experts and laypeople (e.g., public display of human remains). Contributions related to the management of human remains after their recovery and analysis are also welcome. Finally, this session might also embrace legislative differences at an international European level in order to broaden and enrich horizons on the matter.
Keywords:
Archaeology, Ethics, Forensics, Osteological collections, Mummies, Museums
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Clara Veiga-Rilo (Spain) 1
Co-organisers:
Angela Silva-Bessa (Portugal) 2,3,4,5
Marta Colmenares-Prado (Spain) 1
Affiliations:
1. CRETUS. Group EcoPast (GI-1553), Area of Archaeology, Department of History, Facultade de Xeografía e Historia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
2. Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet
3. Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra
4. Laboratory of Toxicology, UCIBIO - REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Porto
5. TOXRUN - Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, Advanced Polytechnic and University Cooperative (CESPU)
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