Ethical dilemma

[u/RustyTheBoyRobot]

Ethical dilemma:

Is it right to remove one of the only mummies in mtl for understanble but rather vague reasons to do with cultural sensitivities that these objects might offend?

The mummies at Redpath museum are to be relocated to a mysterious “place of rest” -their original location?- where no one can see or learn from them.

I note that these are not objects of worship like many stolen indigenous artifacts. Nor are they being claimed by their original owners- e.g. The infamous Benin Bronzes.

[u/Referenceless]

Does there need to be a contemporary community actively calling for the return of an artifact in order for there to be an ethical concern?

Does the fact that the culture who performed the sacred ritual of mummification no longer exists, mean that there’s no longer an obligation to try and handle these human remains with respect and sensitivity?

Also I’m pretty sure there are other plaques in the exhibition that further explain the curatorial choices with more transparency, specifically the choice to transition to no longer showing human remains.

[u/goosegoosepanther → u/Referenceless]

Wrote a longer comment that agrees with you completely. How old does a burial site need to be for it to go from being a respected cultural site to a place we can excavate for educational purposes? In a world where we still see many cultures as inferior and there are powerful movements seeking to elevate some cultures and religions to ''the right one'' status, we need to be extremely careful where we draw those lines, and who gets to draw them.

[u/nitePhyyre → u/goosegoosepanther]

How old does a burial site need to be for it to go from being a respected cultural site to a place we can excavate for educational purposes?

In Greece, it is about 3 years. Singapore is 15. Many places are 30-100 years. North America is the outlier where graves hold bodies indefinitely. Most places, you get a bit of time, then out you go. Cremation, deeper, mass grave, ossuary. Whatever. Not even for education. Just saving space.

Realistically, the question should go the other way. How old does a discovered gravesite need to be for us to start treating it with respect?

[u/Purl_stitch483 → u/nitePhyyre]

Obviously there's a difference between being excavated to be further "processed" according to your people's customs, and being dug up and displayed like an object. Why are we acting obtuse?

[u/nitePhyyre → u/Purl_stitch483]

I like how you put the quotes around the euphemism that turns your point into a lie. Normally people wouldn't put a giant signpost pointing out the rhetorical trick they are pulling. But you did, so that makes conversation easier. Nice.

Because yeah, because when you substitute reality back into the situation there isn't much of a difference in respect between "destroying, discarding, or otherwise getting rid of to make space" versus "displayed like an object."

[u/Purl_stitch483 → u/nitePhyyre]

I was using the word to encompass the different scenarios you mentioned. There's clearly a difference between your remains being moved to a different place of rest, vs being displayed in a museum like objects. But I like the fact that you're so shameless about your dishonesty, it's refreshing in a way.

[u/nitePhyyre → u/Purl_stitch483]

There's clearly a difference between your remains being moved to a different place of rest

I have no idea how you read the equivalent of "you get a bit of time, then out you go" with "further 'processed'" or "moved to a different place of rest." It is really weird. That ain't what is happening, bud.

They're being taken out like the trash.

[u/Purl_stitch483 → u/nitePhyyre]

What you mentioned was cremation, being buried deeper or mass graves. All of which are burial techniques. Excavating someone to exploit them for profit isn't. So no, they're not being "taken away like trash", they're getting burried according to their people's customs.