A row has broken out between English Heritage and Manchester Museum about its human remains policy.
The policy, published last year after a period of public consultation, states that the museum will: "Only accession human remains in exceptional circumstances and be proactive in disposing of existing holdings."
English Heritage's chief scientist, Sebastian Payne, wrote in British Archaeology magazine that reluctance to accept human remains into museum collections could cause problems.
He added that the policy had caused "considerable consternation" in the scientific and archaeological community.
"Human remains make up an important part of the archaeological archive," said Payne. "To have a museum splitting them off from the rest of the archaeological archive is of great difficulty for the long-term security and safeguarding of that archive."
Piotr Bienkowski, deputy director of Manchester Museum, admitted that it was a significant change of policy.
"We have deliberately gone beyond the department for culture guidance on how we involve different communities in decision-making and who we involve," he said.
"For overseas claims, we are committed to being proactive. For human remains from Britain, we are committed to listening to and working with all interested parties.
"We're moving away from a strict genealogical, linear link to one coming through place."
The policy, published last year after a period of public consultation, states that the museum will: "Only accession human remains in exceptional circumstances and be proactive in disposing of existing holdings."
English Heritage's chief scientist, Sebastian Payne, wrote in British Archaeology magazine that reluctance to accept human remains into museum collections could cause problems.
He added that the policy had caused "considerable consternation" in the scientific and archaeological community.
"Human remains make up an important part of the archaeological archive," said Payne. "To have a museum splitting them off from the rest of the archaeological archive is of great difficulty for the long-term security and safeguarding of that archive."
Piotr Bienkowski, deputy director of Manchester Museum, admitted that it was a significant change of policy.
"We have deliberately gone beyond the department for culture guidance on how we involve different communities in decision-making and who we involve," he said.
"For overseas claims, we are committed to being proactive. For human remains from Britain, we are committed to listening to and working with all interested parties.
"We're moving away from a strict genealogical, linear link to one coming through place."