5 - Good Practice in Curating Human Remains

Summary

Modern best practice in caring for human remains is explored in this chapter. The chapter gives the context of the various guidance documents produced in different countries. It covers whether the country in question has one rule for all remains or whether remains are treated differently depending on differing circumstances, for example,the age of the remains – broadly the recently dead or the ancient dead – the origin of the remains and the usage of the remains. The processes necessary to follow in respect of curation of remains that are claimed for return are also considered here.