Cremated Bone in Archaeology: Ethical Considerations in the Excavation, Analysis, Storage, and Display of Cremated Bone in the United Kingdom

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, the study of archaeological cremated human remains has risen exponentially over the past three decades. Consequently, we are gaining a more rounded understanding of past communities, rather than a skewed perspective caused by an overreliance on studies of human remains from inhumation graves. Yet, ethical considerations related to the excavation, recording, analysis, storage, and display of cremated remains are not explicitly explored in the literature. This paper redresses this imbalance and explores the key ethical challenges based on the authors' professional experiences in commercial archaeology, universities, and museums. Recommendations for best ethical practice are provided and are aimed at all relevant parties who may encounter cremated bone in their place of work. Clearly, best practice can only be achieved by ensuring practitioners (including students) have appropriate ethics training, including consulting with specialists where experience of cremated human bone may be lacking within a team. The attainment of standardized ethical protocols explicitly addressing cremated remains and implementing training initiatives should be spearheaded by professional bodies. Ultimately, we hope this paper will encourage the inclusion of cremated remains in ethical discourses within archaeology, osteoarchaeology, and museology.