Much debate as to whether we should collect/study human remains:
Positive: new discoveries/information can be obtained by studying these bodies.
Negative: some believe remains should be reburied → is disrespectful to have bodies on display.
Has been a long tradition of collecting human remains for study/display; there has been increasing pressure for these bones to be reburied.
Casts have been made of bodies to overcome the issue of directly displaying the remains; these plaster replicas are displayed at various points in P+H, instead of the actual remains.
New technology → holographic displays of bodies; may mean that bodies would not be directly displayed, with a likeness presented instead.
Sara Bisel: Ethical issues came with Bisel’s study of bones in Herculaneum. She had various photos taken which were unethical and made conclusions about bones (e.g. the soldier, slave girl) which were unsubstantiated and had no real basis in evidence.
A skeleton of a woman was also pictured with rings and bracelets on; however it was determined later these were not in their original context and had been moved for the purpose of the photo
However, as argued by Ford, “Human skeletons are indispensable for archaeological research. Ancient diets, disease pathologies, genetic patterns and environmental adaptations are but a few research areas that osteoarchaeological remains can illustrate”
The display of human remains of archaeological importance is similarly contentious, in the past the treatment of human remains on the site has been remarkably poor
Museums have held the disarticulated bodies in basements, wrapped in newspaper
A level of sensitivity towards the treatment of the dead ought to be adhere to in order to not undermine traditional burial practices and beliefs
The on-site display of the skeletons has also cause much ethical debate, relative to the deliberate movement of skeletons for theatrical effect and as a ploy to attract tourists
This was brought to light by Dr. Estelle Lazer who drew attention to room 19, in which one skeleton had two left thigh bones
This issue highlights the tension between the value of entertainment and the importance of respect for the artefacts
However, these skeletons do offer a significant amount of information about the sight and are a significant aspect to the education of visitors
Certain measures are often put in place to ensure ethical display of skeletons in contemporary site management, such as warning signs of human remains for sensitive visitors .