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Kennesaw State University

HUMAN REMAINS IN MUSEUMS AND INSTITUTIONS: LAWS AND POLICIES

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Human remains are a unique type of archaeological artifact because of the emotional and cultural ties to living descendants that can still affect the living today. Museums have acquired sets of human remains over the decades by various means like purchases, donations, and grave robbing. The ethical and legal process of displaying and having ownership of human remains has been questioned in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom because both have extensive human remains collections from multiple different cultures. While there are human remains in institutions other than museums that have to abide by the same laws, this thesis will focus on human remains in museums. The history of how human remain collections came to be has shaped how museums handle repatriation or possession of the remains. The laws and policies in the US and UK have changed over the decades to reflect a new attitude of how museums have begun to be more ethically acceptable.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Art in Art and Design (MAAD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
School of Art and Design
Year dc:date.available
2022

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Steele, Cassidy
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith
  • Dr. Flora Anthony
  • Dr. Phillip Kiernan

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/art_etd/1
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:art_etd-1000

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Kennesaw State University
Base URL
digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Steele, Cassidy. HUMAN REMAINS IN MUSEUMS AND INSTITUTIONS: LAWS AND POLICIES. Thesis thesis, 2022. https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/art_etd/1