News

Global perspectives: understanding the shared humanity of our ancestors
Date: Friday 9th- Sunday 11th October, 2009
Location: Museum of London

Humans are probably unique among species in that we seek to understand ourselves. This need to understand who we are and where we come from has given rise to a wide variety of approaches, which tend to be culturally specific and arise from particular attitudes prevalent in an individual community.

When communities are far apart in either space or time such differences are of little consequence in interactions between groups. Only when contact exists between groups is this diversity important. One such example of a mismatch between worldviews is that between western science and the indigenous communities. This has set up a dichotomy between the scientific and indigenous views surrounding such issues as the display of, access to and the repatriation of the remains of people from the past.

One of the main problems underpinning this dichotomy is the lack of understanding between the western scientific community and those from indigenous groups, whose ancestors are within museum collections, of each others worldviews.

This conference will begin a dialogue between these groups with the aim of presenting an understanding of what these differing worldviews comprise and how these views were formed within those communities. Only through this shared knowledge can we view our shared humanity.

The Advisory Panel on the Archaeology of Christian Burials in England (APACBE) is to be dissolved and be replaced with a new body, the Advisory Panel on the Archaeology of Burials in England (APABE).

There is a consultation process closing on 1st May 2009. Comments are sought on the following issues:

- Whether a single panel for advice and the promulgation of best practice on issues connected with all ancient burials in England would be useful.

- Whether, in addition to representatives of the three national organisations with statutory responsibilities for archaeological burials, any new panel should include representatives of archaeologists, osteologists and museum staff.  If you agree, it would be helpful to learn whether there may be other groups or organisations whose representation on the panel would assist in providing relevant, well-informed, advice to the archaeological sector.

Details can be found here.

The HTA is seeking feedback on its proposed new licence fee structure. The closing date for consultation responses is Thursday 5 March 2009.

Find details here.

The HTA is holding a public consultation on revised versions of eight codes of practice, including public display.  Closing date for responses 14 November 2008.

The revised code of practice on public display
Online form for responses to consultation

The conference website with draft programme is now available.

Click here for website and programme

Sessions include repatriation, genocide, slavery, censorship, power and the treatment of human remains. One session will focus on challenges to the display and curation of human remains, which will contribute to the development of the ‘Guidelines for the Care of Human Remains in Scottish Museum Collections’.