Conservation and restoration of human remains

The conservation and restoration of human remains involves the long-term preservation and care of human remains in various forms which exist within museum collections. This category can include bones and soft tissues as well as ashes, hair, and teeth.[1] Given the organic nature of the human body, special steps must be taken to halt the deterioration process and maintain the integrity of the remains in their existing state.[2] These types of museum artifacts have great merit as tools for education and scientific research, yet also have unique challenges from a cultural and ethical standpoint. Conservation of human remains within museum collections is most often undertaken by a conservator-restorer[3] or archaeologist.[4] Other specialists related to this area of conservation include osteologists and taxidermists.

Human skull on display at the Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma City
  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Complying with NAGPRA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Pouliot, Bruno P. (2000). "Organic Materials". The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collection. Hanover: University Press of New England. pp. 45–56.
  3. ^ Wesche, Anne, ed. (2013). Recommendations for the Care of Human Remains in Museums and Collections (PDF). Germany: Deutscher Museumsbund e.V. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  4. ^ Berger, Stephanie (2013). "Treating Bones: The Intersection of Archaeology And Conservation" (PDF). University of Michigan. p. 10.