UK Museums House Over 260,000 Human Remains, Many from Former Colonies

A recent investigation found that 241 museums and institutions in the United Kingdom hold more than 263,000 human remains. The report, based on public records, revealed that 28,914 of these items originate from outside Europe, with significant collections from Africa and Asia. Two institutions—the Natural History Museum in London and Cambridge University's Duckworth Collections—hold the majority of non-European remains. Experts expressed concern about the ethical implications, noting many remains were acquired during the colonial era through practices now deemed unacceptable. Unlike the United States, which has the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the UK lacks legally binding repatriation laws, relying instead on guidelines that grant institutions discretion over returns.