When I suggested last year that north England might appeal for the ‘repatriation’ of Lindow Man, I didn’t realise this was actually on the cards. But sure enough, the poor bugger, apparently the victim of ‘triple execution’ in the first century BC, is to go “back to his roots“, and will be transported from London to the Manchester Museum for a year.
But once he is returned the prospect of this mummy going on display is in doubt, as Manchester conducts a “public consultation” to ensure that Lindow Man and other human remains, including Egyptian mummies, are exhibited “in a respectful way.”
“If our consultation process shows there isn’t an appropriate way to display the dead in a sensitive and informative way then it is an option that we will not display them.”
There are two issues here: repatriation and attitudes towards displaying the dead.
First is that repatriation is increasingly taking on a regionalist dimension. This was recently illustrated by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond’s half-baked campaign to ‘bring back’ the Lewis chessmen. The case perfectly encapsulated the intractability of cultural ownership. On a more mundane level, it often happens that archaeological finds are taken outside the regions where they were discovered, for reasons of research, preservation, conservation and cultural significance. The case of Seahenge, where a prehistoric wooden structure off the coast of Norfolk was dismantled and taken away, highlighted opposition to the practice, and ended up in a high profile court case.
The second issue is about attitudes towards displaying the dead. I appreciate the complexity of balancing multiple ethical and cultural values in public museum displays. But I hold a pretty dim view of prudishness taking priority over conveying important historical messages. I remember as a child visiting the Imperial War Museum being particularly struck by a display case containing a victim of the Hiroshima bombings (or perhaps it was a cast). The message that I took from that display, of the tragedy of war and the horror of nuclear weapons, is surely no less significant than any outrage, squeamishness or voyeurism that another viewer might have derived from it. This consultation on human remains seems to reflect an increasing willingness to accommodate marginal, pious and petty outlooks, at the expense of everyone else.
I’m sure Cheshire and Manchester will be all the richer for this restitution. Particularly if no one is allowed to see it!
Tags: Alex Salmond, Imperial War Museum, Lewis chessmen, Lindow Man, Manchester Museum, repatriation, Seahenge
