Human Remains: Guide for Museums and Academic Institutions

by Vicki Cassman (Editor), Nancy Odegaard (Editor), Joseph Powell (Editor), Marta Alfonso (Contribution by), Bernardo Arriaza (Contribution by)

Overview

This edited volume contains valuable information for museums and academic institutions concerning the care and conservation of human remains. The editors provide all the essential information required concerning the curation of human remains, from oft posed ethical questions to storage and transport issues. Jam-packed with references, this collection is up to date and is a must have resource. This volume should be required reading for institutions with osteology collections, as well as scholars and students. With a foreword by Brian Fagan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759109551
Publisher:	AltaMira Press
Publication date:	08/14/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	330
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Vicki Cassman is Assistant Professor of Conservation at the University of Delaware. Nancy Odegaard is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Arizona as well as a conservator at the Arizona State Museum.Joseph Powell is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque and a physical anthropologist.

Table of Contents

2 Foreword
Chapter 3 Introduction: Dealing with the Dead
Chapter 4 Ethics of Flesh and Bone, or Ethics in the Practice of Paleopathology, 'steology, and Bioarchaeology
5 American Association of Museums Position Statement
Chapter 6 Policy
7 Example Mission Statement for a University Collection
8 Websites of Interest with Sample Policies
Chapter 9 Condition (Assessment) of 'steology Collections
10 Access and Documentation of Collections in Law Enforcement Agencies: A Case Study
11 Condition Glossary
12 Common Vocabulary for Addressing Body Position or Orientation
Chapter 13 Examination and Analysis
14 Padding and Support Materials
15 Recommended Basic Tool Usage
16 Beanbags for Support and Cushioning
17 Temporary Markers for Indicating Bone Landmarks during Metric Analyses
18 General Considerations in Casting
19 Instrumental Analysis
20 Arizona State Museum Destructive Testing Policy
Chapter 21 Treatment and Invasive Actions
22 Mexicans Clean Bones to Honor the Dead
23 The Impact of Preservation Treatments on DNA
Chapter 24 Indigenous Value Orientations in the Care of Human Remains
25 The Vermillion Accord on Human Remains
Chapter 26 Storage and Transport
27 The 'steology Box
28 Labeling Procedures from the Arizona State Museum
29 Materials Used for Storage Supports
30 Steps for an Insect Monitoring Program
31 Moving the Kennewick Man
32 Rehousing the Kennewick Remains
33 Packing Royalty
Chapter 34 Associated Artifacts
35 Conservation Conversation I-III
36 Associated Funerary Objects: Religious Votives
Chapter 37 Documentation: History and Sources of Skeletons in Collections
38 A Case Study: Colonialism and the Return of Sarah Baartman
39 Linnaeus and the Origins of Typology
40 Documentation Systems in Human 'steology
Chapter 42 Associated Records: the Kennewick Project
Chapter 43 Multidisciplinary Research Teams
Chapter 44 Fieldwork
45 Tell Hesi Biblical Site
46 Rescuing Mummies from Urban Centers in the Atacama Desert
47 Cremations
Chapter 48 Working with the Dead: Health Concerns
49 Respect for the Dead, Respect for the Living
50 Personal Protective Equipment Guidelines
Chapter 51 The Law of Human Remains and Burials
Chapter 52 Respect for the Dead, Respect for the Living
53 Guidelines for Treatment of Remains of Indian People in Archaeological Sites
54 Spirit Man Cave: A Body of Contention
Chapter 55 Display: The Body in the Museum
56 Caring for an Egyptian Mummy and Coffin
57 Views on Displaying Human Remains

Editorial Reviews

This book is an excellent and comprehensive resource that incorporates both theory and practical guidelines to elucidate a very complex and sensitive subject. It is an important review of a continually evolving aspect of anthropological and museum science with a global focus. The answers, guidance, and cultural insights that it provides will be useful to professionals, students, and other stakeholders endeavoring to balance the issues and concerns involved with human remains.

Paul S. Storch

At the foundation of this terrific volume is respect for the deceased who are revered by descendent communities, excavated by archaeologists,analyzed by interdisciplinary teams of scientists, and preserved and curated by conservators and curators. All of these groups will benefit from the wealth of information in this book on the ethical handling, management, and care of human remains in the field, lab, repository, and beyond. The case studies and guidelines are especially potent and useful. A must for all who care about and work with human remains or ever think they might.

S. Terry Childs

This important collection of papers provides discussion of and recommendations for the recovery, treatment, documentation, curation, and study of human remains, largely from the perspective of conservation and the long-term commitment to care of skeletons. The conservation point of view has been expressed in various literatures over the years, but nowhere has it been done so in such an interesting and comprehensive fashion, all under the cover of a single book. The various and thoughtful perspectives represented in this book gives much material for discussion about the central importance of conservation of the remains of ancestors. Although the book is intended mainly for institutions and the collections that may be under their care, this book is a must read for a wider audience-anyone who deals with human remains derived from any context.

Clarke Spencer Larsen

The authoritative guide to the institutional curation of human remains will serve as the ultimate reference for decades. From ethics to insects, these internationally-recognized authors offer solutions to everyday concerns of museum and institutional curation of human remains.

Professor Arthur Aufderheide

This handsome and unique book can serve both as a reference guide and as a comprehensive manual for establishing policies related to the curation and conservation of human skeletal remains. With a title that is printed on the spine in a large and legible font and possessing a colorful yet durable pictorial cover, it is ready to be plucked off the bookshelf, quickly consulted and swiftly returned to its designated spot among other frequently used reference works. It is appropriate for students, professionals, and stakeholders who are concerned with the ethical care of human remains collections....This revolutionary book contains all the tools needed to begin the process of creating or revising policy so as to meet the goals set by the authors: improved preservation and management practices in concert with new attitudes that approach these remains with respectful concern for their humanity.

Museum Anthropology Review

This book would be a useful reference for anyone involved with the recovery, care or treatment of human remains. It combines both practical and philosophical considerations of a complex and contentious area of archaeology, conservation and museology.

Journal Of Cac

This book would be a useful reference for anyone involved with the recovery, care or treatment of human remains. It combines both practical and philosophical considerations of a complex and contentious area of archaeology, conservation and museology.

February 2009 Journal Of Cac

This book is an excellent and comprehensive resource that incorporates both theory and practical guidelines to elucidate a very complex and sensitive subject. It is an important review of a continually evolving aspect of anthropological and museum science with a global focus. The answers, guidance, and cultural insights that it provides will be useful to professionals, students, and other stakeholders endeavoring to balance the issues and concerns involved with human remains.--Paul S. Storch, Senior Objects Conservator, Minnesota Historical Society, Contributing author: Caring for American Indian Objects: A Practical a

At the foundation of this terrific volume is respect for the deceased who are revered by descendent communities, excavated by archaeologists, analyzed by interdisciplinary teams of scientists, and preserved and curated by conservators and curators. All of these groups will benefit from the wealth of information in this book on the ethical handling, management, and care of human remains in the field, lab, repository, and beyond. The case studies and guidelines are especially potent and useful. A must for all who care about and work with human remains or ever think they might.--S. Terry Childs, co-author of Curating Archaeological Collections: From the Field to the Repository

This important collection of papers provides discussion of and recommendations for the recovery, treatment, documentation, curation, and study of human remains, largely from the perspective of conservation and the long-term commitment to care of skeletons. The conservation point of view has been expressed in various literatures over the years, but nowhere has it been done so in such an interesting and comprehensive fashion, all under the cover of a single book. The various and thoughtful perspectives represented in this book gives much material for discussion about the central importance of conservation of the remains of ancestors. Although the book is intended mainly for institutions and the collections that may be under their care, this book is a must read for a wider audience-anyone who deals with human remains derived from any context.--Clarke Spencer Larsen, Distinguished Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Chair, Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University

From the Publisher