Some human remains date from Frederick Horniman’s founding collection, including the Ancient Egyptian mummified remains. Most human remains came into the collection after the current Museum was established in 1901: notably, during the 1920s for a physical anthropology display and in the 1970s for a display on human evolution.
We recognise that historically, some of these remains were obtained through imbalanced power structures. Remains were collected under conditions of colonial occupation and unacceptable circumstances including through force or duress. Some remains were collected to support racial determinism and the ideology of the superiority of certain human races over others.
Human remains were once-living people or parts of living people, and belongings made from or incorporating human remains. As such, they have a personal, cultural, symbolic, spiritual or religious significance to Indigenous, source, and/or descent communities, countries, and communities of association.
We understand that the retention of human remains is experienced by some communities as an ongoing hurt or injustice, and a disregard to their spiritual and religious beliefs.
We are committed to working proactively with Indigenous, source, and/or descent communities (including those of wider association), countries, other museum professionals and interested groups. We want to ensure that all sacred, culturally, and religiously sensitive belongings and entities are cared for and treated respectfully.
We are also committed to considering the care and treatment of human remains alongside the wishes of the dead and their living communities, where known and relevant. We recognise that what constitutes respect and care is culturally and community specific, and should be approached on a case-by-case basis.
To be open and transparent about the Horniman collections and their origins, and in line with best practice, we committed in our Human Remains Policy to publish a full list of the human remains online.
The human remains are listed by continent. These lists include human skeletal remains as well as hair, teeth and nails, and modified artefacts that include human remains. Unfortunately, there are a number of human remains where the provenance has not been recorded. These are also listed in the documents below.
If you want further information on the collections, please contact us on enquiry@horniman.ac.uk
If you are interested in enquiring about a return, please read the Horniman’s Restitution and Repatriation Policy.