T22/S01 Changing Bioarchaeological Ethics and Practice in the 21st Century
Format: Panel discussion
Organisers: Michael C. Westaway, Archaeology, School of Social Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia
Michael L. Blakey, Institute for Historical Biology, Department of Anthropology, William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
In 2022 the American Anthropological Association convened a Commission to consider new and higher ethical standards for the treatment of human remains (DNA and blood samples, tissue samples, skeletal remains, and cemeteries) by archaeologists and biological anthropologists in the field, museum, or laboratory. With additional support of the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research and the Burrows-Welcome Fund, Global Listening Sessions were held with colleagues and representatives of indigenous people and other groups historically subjected to anthropological collection. The Commission sought to gain their perspectives on past and present anthropological treatment of their ancestral remains. By and large, their assessment was critical of the objectification of ancestral remains and demanded the informed consent of lineal descendants and descendant communities or culturally-affiliated groups. The Commission for the Ethical Treatment of Human Remains released an extensive report in 2024 with guidance on how such new standards can be achieved in the conduct of anthropological research or memorialisation. This workshop invites WAC participants to discuss the Commission’s results towards their further world-wide consideration and refinement. Three Commission members will present key aspects of the Report followed by open conversation with participants:
Commission Presenters:
Sabrina Agarwal, Department of Anthropology, University of California-Berkeley, USA
Michael L. Blakey, Institute for Historical Biology, Department of Anthropology, William & Mary, USA
Kisha Supernant, Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology, Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Canada
Rachel Watkins, Department of Anthropology, Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania, USA
T22/S02 Whose Ice Age Legacy? The Reburial of Willandra Lakes Ancestral Remains
Format: Panel discussion
Organisers: Gary Pappin, Mutti Mutti, gary@pappin.com.au
Doug Williams, Access Archaeology, dwilliams@accessarchaeology.com
Michael C Westaway, Archaeology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, m.westaway@uq.edu.au
In 1981 the Willandra Lakes was inscribed as one of Australia’s two first World Heritage Areas. Central to its inscription were the ancient remains of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man. Since then, fossil human remains from over 100 ancestral people dating to the Ice Age have been rescued from erosion, entrenching the Willandra as a centre of one of the world’s great stories of humanity. In 2003 a delegation of Willandra Elders attended the 3rd WAC and discussed the then recent discovery of additional ancestral remains and emphasised the need for a keeping place. In 2017, with great ceremony, the ancestral remains were repatriated to the Willandra Lakes. Debate over the fate of the ancestral remains has created division, with some Traditional Owners arguing for long term retention in a keeping place while others have argued for reburial. In 2022 then Environment Minister Susan Ley approved reburial of the Willandra remains, while shortly after incoming Minister for the Environment, Tanya Plibersek, revoked this permission, awaiting further consideration. Nonetheless a delegation of Aboriginal people obtained access to the ancestral remains and Mungo Lady and Mungo Man were secretly reburied. The fate of the remaining ancestral remains is uncertain.
In this session we shall explore the issues around the first reburial of ancestral remains recognised as part of the heritage of multiple parties, primarily Willandra’s Three Traditional Tribal Groups, but also of that Australia and the world. We propose to explore the future of the past from multiple perspectives.
T22/S03 New Insights and Collaborative Research in Bioarchaeology
Format: Paper presentation with discussion
Organisers: Michael C. Westaway, Archaeology, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia, m.westaway@uq.edu.au
Michael L. Blakey, Institute for Historical Biology, Dept of Anthropology, William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA, mlblak@wm.edu
Judith Littleton, Anthropology, University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, j.littleton@auckland.ac.nz
Some of the most informative and personal insights in reconstructing past societies are derived through bioarchaeological research. Whether these are single case studies/osteobiographies, or detailed studies of larger samples of individuals representative of populations, they provide insights into the human past that cannot be obtained through other types of archaeological evidence. With the emergence of higher resolution molecular studies, we can now gain a deeper understanding of ancient diet, the movement of people and relationships with neighbouring groups. A significant legacy issue continues, stemming from the theft and unethical treatment of ancestors and a failure to engage and consult with Indigenous people and descendant communities. The sensitive nature of bioarchaeological research, dealing with the ancestors of living people, requires the development of meaningful partnerships with descendant communities. In this context we have seen emerge more empathetic approaches to studying people of the past, where new methodological approaches such as the bioarchaeology of care have been developed, emphasising how people were cared for and nursed by their societies in the past. Bioarchaeology has great potential to help communities engage with their past in very powerful ways when undertaken collaboratively and with respect. In this session we will explore a series of studies that highlight the importance of ethical research in bioarchaeology, providing insights into how work can continue through new ethical approaches to human remains from the past and how when developed in collaboration and partnership can provide results of importance to Indigenous and descendant communities. The session will start with a keynote discussing the African burial ground excavation in Manhattan, one of the world’s most informative case studies on conducting community based bioarchaeological research through what can be defined as a clientage model, where community ownership and decision making generated globally significant insights.
T22/S04 Ethics and Human Remains in Museums and Other Institutions
Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Organisers: Ronika Power, Macquarie University, Australia, ronika.power@mq.edu.au
Melanie Pitkin, Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, Australia
Jacinta Carruthers, Macquarie University, Australia
Faten Kamal, The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt
Alice Stevenson, University College London, UK
Alexandra Doubleday, Macquarie University, Australia, alexandra.doubleday@mq.edu.au
Bernardette Mercieca-Spiteri, Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, Malta
Sharon Sultana, National Museum of Archaeology, Heritage Malta, Malta
Jess Thompson, University of Cambridge and National Museum of Scotland, UK
Trish Biers, Duckworth Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
Human remains derived from archaeological excavations and other practices are held in museums and institutions across the world. Ethical approaches to many aspects of engaging with ancestral and archaeological human remains are at the forefront of academic, professional and public debates, including but not limited to their display, storage, conservation, and repatriation. To date, official guidance from international governing bodies has been limited or absent regarding these engagements in collections contexts. Although well intended, where they do exist some guidelines are vague and subject to interpretation, and many have not included consultation or collaboration with descent communities. This session provides an opportunity for members of descent communities and all ‘communities of implication’ to present research, practice, problems or priorities regarding ethical approaches to ancestral and archaeological human remains in museums and other institutions across the world. The end goal of this session is to share ideas, resources, and better practice strategies regarding museum engagements with this unique and critical aspect of global cultural heritage.