The public representation of human remains.
A recent post on one of my social media feeds from an archaeological magazine (https://www.archaeology.org) depicts the mummified and intricately tattooed body of an individual from “the Ibaloi people of the Philippines”. Out of respect I’ve chosen not to reproduce the image here. I find the post problematic on a number of levels not least being there is no context as to how the remains were acquired, respect for the individual involved and whether there are cultural sensitivities or beliefs of the originating community as to its public display or representation either physically or virtually.
Further research suggests that the mummy may be Apo Anno who is seen as a revered ancestor of the Kankanaey people and whose preserved remains disappeared sometime during the early 1900s possibly to the States or Japan. His body was eventually returned to his community in the late 1990s. Further information about the Kabayan mummies can be found here:
While Indigenous human remains were collected as a consequence of colonisation, or as anatomical or medical history specimens, laws and ethics on this topic are rapidly changing. It is not only museums who need to stay at the forefront of this issue. Media outlets including photo libraries also need to ensure that they adopt appropriate guidelines when displaying or providing access to images of ancestors or human remains, especially in the case of Indigenous peoples. The ICOM Code of Ethics is a good starting point –
These remains are not simply scientific or anthropological curiosities, we have a collective responsibility to challenge and examine colonial legacies as well ensuring that when we reproduce images of the deceased we do so in a respectful manner.
