Criteria for access to human remains for visiting researchers

The Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) recognises human remains, whether archaeological or of more recent origin, as the remains of once-living people and will manage access with dignity, care and cultural sensitivity. Access will be consistent with the Arts Council England Museum Accreditation Standard, the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, DCMS Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums (2005), relevant legislation, and the Museum's associated collections, research, conservation and cultural return policies.

Access is conditional and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

An object that contains some element of human remains, such as composite objects with hair locks, may be subject to the provisions of this policy. Advice on this will be given at the time of request.

Requests may be accepted from source or descendant communities and their representatives; bona fide researchers; museum professionals; and, where appropriate, students or others with a demonstrable legitimate purpose. The PRM will recognise that cultural authority and community knowledge may constitute appropriate expertise and will not require academic affiliation from community representatives.

Applications must identify the remains concerned; explain the purpose, methods and anticipated outcomes of access; demonstrate why direct access is necessary; and identify any proposed handling, photography, imaging, sampling or publication. The PRM may request evidence of relevant experience, supervision, institutional ethics approval or other safeguards proportionate to the proposed activity.

In determining access, the PRM will consider:

• the views, cultural protocols and interests of relevant source, descendant or associated communities;
• provenance, cultural affiliation, date, legal status and circumstances of acquisition; and whether the material is the subject of any current claim for repatriation
• whether the proposed activity provides sufficient scholarly, community or public benefit and whether this outweighs potential cultural, spiritual, ethical or physical concerns;
• the condition and vulnerability of the remains and whether access can occur without unacceptable risk;
• whether less intrusive alternatives, including documentation or existing research, could meet the applicant's objectives; and
• any restrictions arising from legislation, agreements, previous consultation, repatriation claims or culturally sensitive status.

Particular caution will apply to remains of known individuals, remains obtained without consent or in circumstances of colonial or other unequal power relations, and remains for which communities have agreed restrictions with the PRM. Community access, including access for cultural, spiritual or ceremonial purposes, will be facilitated wherever reasonably possible.

Approved access will take place under agreed supervision and conditions. Handling will be kept to the minimum necessary and undertaken respectfully, following appropriate conservation, health and safety, and culturally specific requirements.

Photography, filming, imaging and destructive sampling require explicit additional permission.

Access to associated records will normally be possible, although photography and filming may be restricted. In the case of material no longer in the PRM’s collection, access to associated records may be restricted unless the current custodian of the material has given consent.

Researchers must respect agreed restrictions on publication and dissemination and, where required, provide the PRM with copies of resulting research or data.

The PRM may refuse, suspend or withdraw access where conditions are breached or where new ethical, legal, conservation or community concerns arise. Decisions and their rationale will be documented to ensure consistency, transparency and accountability.

Photograph and Manuscript Collections

Requests for access to certain types of material in these collections are also subject to similar considerations as set out in this guidance.

As a general rule, if material in the PRM’s photograph or manuscript collections is not available publicly on the Museum’s Collections Online for reasons of cultural sensitivity, then a request for access should be addressed to ms-photo.colls@prm.ox.ac.uk to discuss the need to consult the material.

How to apply for access:

All requests for access should be addressed to the Head of Object Collections via objects.colls@prm.ox.ac.uk

A staff member will then communicate with the applicant about the request and whether further information or clarification is required, and whether a formal application for access is required.

A decision on access is then made by the PRM’s Collections, Research and Teaching Committee, which meets bi-monthly.

Any requests that involve sampling will require additional agreement from the PRM’s Board of Visitors, which meets 3 times a year.