The ethical complexities of ancient Egyptian mummified human remains in museums

What constitutes the respectful and dignified display of human remains?

This talk will explore the latest holistic research being undertaken at the Chau Chak Wing Museum into the ethical care, treatment, interpretation and display of ancient Egyptian mummified human remains, especially in an Australian context. It will consider the perspectives of researcher, museum visitor, descent communities and museum professionals, as well as the ancient dead. 

The talk will also address the legacies of colonial collecting practices inherited by museum curators, as well as other ethical issues posed by modern scientific analysis and restitution. 

Dr Melanie Pitkin

Dr Melanie Pitkin is an Egyptologist and Senior Curator of the Nicholson Collection of Antiquities and Archaeology at the University of Sydney. She completed her PhD on the history and chronology of First Intermediate Period Egyptian stelae at Macquarie University (now published as a monograph) and was a Postdoctoral scholar in the Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge between 2018-2021. Melanie has more than 15 years professional experience working in museums in Australia and the UK and providing support to museums in Egypt. She is also a tour leader to Egypt.