London museum accused of mutilating Aboriginal bones
[London's] Natural History Museum has been accused by Tasmanian Aboriginals of "mutilating" the remains of their ancestors. Native Australians say the institution has defiled the 17th-century bones by removing parts for scientific tests.
The dispute centres on 17 skeletons held by the museum in London since the 1940s. Although it has agreed to return the remains in its possession, the museum has been collecting samples from skulls and bones for DNA analysis.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC), which is bringing legal action against the museum today, complained the tests were "racist" and desecrated the beliefs of the Aboriginal community.
The dead are believed to be "souls in torment" until buried according to Aboriginal custom, which involves being returned to their birthplace and read their last rites.
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The dispute centres on 17 skeletons held by the museum in London since the 1940s. Although it has agreed to return the remains in its possession, the museum has been collecting samples from skulls and bones for DNA analysis.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC), which is bringing legal action against the museum today, complained the tests were "racist" and desecrated the beliefs of the Aboriginal community.
The dead are believed to be "souls in torment" until buried according to Aboriginal custom, which involves being returned to their birthplace and read their last rites.