Human remains

Held in a number of departments for display and research, over 6,000 human remains are in the care of the Museum. The human remains are managed in a way that protects the collection for the benefit of present and future generations. Mindful of ethical obligations, the Museum ensures that the human remains held in its care are always treated and displayed with respect and dignity.

The worldwide context of the collection provides an opportunity to look at how past societies have conceived of death and disposed of the remains of the dead across cultures of vastly different times and places.

The study of the human remains in the collection also furthers our understanding of the past by advancing important research in fields such as archaeology, bioarchaeology and physical anthropology. Their analysis provides unique insights into past peoples and cultures.

• View a list of human remains in the collection
• Explore the collection and research departments

The scientific study of human remains from archaeological sites provides unique insights into ancient lives. Analysis of the human remains in the Museum's collection helps advance important research in fields such as archaeology, social anthropology, human biology, the history of disease, palaeoepidemiology, bioarchaeology, physical anthropology and genetics.

The information and insight gained through the archaeological and scientific analysis of human remains is ever-increasing, particularly as scientific methods improve and develop, all of which continues to inform our understanding of past societies and can then be shared with Museum visitors. This scientific analysis offers information that other archaeological sources usually do not provide, such as age-at-death, ancient diseases, diet, genetics and past burial practices.

In carrying out research on human remains in the collection, the Museum reminds researchers of their ethical obligations with regard to human remains. Researchers are expected to follow the relevant principles of the Museum's Human remains policy and the Code of practice.

The Museum recognises the importance of making the collection available to external researchers.

If you want to study any of the human remains in the Museum's collection, please contact the relevant department. If your proposed study involves detailed study, measurement or sampling of human remains, you may be requested to submit a detailed application form. This is in order to safeguard the collection and to ensure that all human remains are treated in a suitably respectful manner. All such requests are subject to a rigorous review process following a formal application procedure.

Find out how to apply for scientific study of the collection.