What's happened
An auction house in the UK has withdrawn 18 ancient Egyptian human skulls from sale after criticism from MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who described the trade as a gross violation of human dignity. The skulls, originally collected by Augustus Pitt-Rivers, were listed for sale with a guide price of £200-300 each. The sale has sparked ethical concerns and calls for a review of laws around the sale of human remains.
Why it matters
The withdrawal of the ancient Egyptian human skulls from sale highlights the ethical considerations surrounding the trade in human remains and the need for stricter regulations. The criticism from MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy underscores the importance of respecting human dignity and the memory of those whose remains are involved in such transactions.
What the papers say
The Guardian emphasizes the MP's stance on the sale of human remains, condemning it as a perpetuation of colonial atrocities. The Independent criticizes the auction house for selling African human remains, with academics and campaigners denouncing the move as unethical. Business Insider UK reports on the criticism from experts and the call for a review of laws regarding the sale of human remains.
How we got here
The ancient Egyptian human skulls were originally collected by Augustus Pitt-Rivers, a Victorian British soldier and archaeologist, and were part of his second collection displayed in a private museum. The sale of these skulls has raised concerns about the ethics of trading in human remains and the historical context of colonial exploitation.
Common question
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Lieutenant General Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers (14 April 1827 – 4 May 1900) was an English officer in the British Army, ethnologist, and archaeologist. He was noted for innovations in archaeological methodology, and in the museum display of arc
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Dan Hicks, FSA is a British archaeologist and anthropologist. He is Professor of Contemporary Archaeology at the University of Oxford, Curator at the Pitt Rivers Museum, and a Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford.