Druid officer challenges human-remains ruling
Druid council oppose English Heritage decision to keep remains at Avebury museum
The druid who requested the reburial of human remains from the Alexander Keiller Museum in Avebury will formally challenge English Heritage’s decision to keep the remains in the museum.
Paul Davies, who lodged the request as the reburial officer for the Council of British Druid Orders, will lay out concerns over due process and the phrasing of English Heritage’s consultation questions, as well as highlighting the disparity between the druid organisation and English Heritage’s resources.
Since Davies made his request in June 2006, Sebastian Payne, English Heritage’s chief scientist, estimated that the process had cost his organisation about £40,000.
Piotr Bienkowski, an independent cultural consultant and former acting director of Manchester Museum, said: “Everyone knew what the decision was going to be. In some ways, I wonder why they bothered with an expensive consultation process.”
But Maurice Davies, the Museums Association’s head of policy and communication, said: “I’m not surprised at the decision, but the scale of the consultation is indicative of how much more thoughtful museums are being about human remains in their collections and considering a range of views about them.”
Payne defended the time and expense.
“The request has wider implications for holders of prehistoric human remains and for other museums in a broader context,” he said.
Paul Davies, who lodged the request as the reburial officer for the Council of British Druid Orders, will lay out concerns over due process and the phrasing of English Heritage’s consultation questions, as well as highlighting the disparity between the druid organisation and English Heritage’s resources.
Since Davies made his request in June 2006, Sebastian Payne, English Heritage’s chief scientist, estimated that the process had cost his organisation about £40,000.
Piotr Bienkowski, an independent cultural consultant and former acting director of Manchester Museum, said: “Everyone knew what the decision was going to be. In some ways, I wonder why they bothered with an expensive consultation process.”
But Maurice Davies, the Museums Association’s head of policy and communication, said: “I’m not surprised at the decision, but the scale of the consultation is indicative of how much more thoughtful museums are being about human remains in their collections and considering a range of views about them.”
Payne defended the time and expense.
“The request has wider implications for holders of prehistoric human remains and for other museums in a broader context,” he said.