Events

18. February 2026 - Between Research, Responsibility and Remembrance: Dealing with Human Remains from Colonial Contexts of Unknown Provenance

The digital expert event “Between Research, Responsibility and Remembrance: Dealing with Human Remains from Colonial Contexts of Unknown Provenance”, held on 18 February 2026, addressed the question of how to deal with human remains from colonial contexts whose provenance cannot be determined or can only be clarified to a limited extent. The discussion focused in particular on cases in which uncertainty regarding provenance is likely to persist in the medium to long term. A key distinction emerged between remains whose provenance is currently unknown but may still be clarified, and those for which clarification is, in practice, no longer feasible.

This situation gives rise to a dual challenge. On the one hand, there remains a significant need for more in-depth, cross-institutional and collaborative provenance research—for example, through systematic archival work, interdisciplinary cooperation, closer involvement of communities of origin, and increased linking and cross-referencing of collections. On the other hand, structural and practical limitations persist, including gaps in documentation and limited resources. In this context, the use of invasive methods such as DNA analysis was also discussed. While a cautious approach is often advocated from a museum perspective, it was also argued that, in the context of historical violence, the use of all available means for identification may be justified in order to achieve at least a regional attribution and thereby facilitate rehumanisation and repatriation.

From an ethical perspective, it was emphasised that human remains entered European collections as a result of colonial violence. Their continued retention in such collections can therefore be perceived as a continuation of this violence. At the same time, the establishment of dignified interim solutions—such as so-called “keeping places” or memorial sites—was discussed as a possible expression of institutional responsibility. There was broad agreement that purely administrative storage without a clear ethical perspective is not tenable.

The discussion further highlighted that communities of origin are not homogeneous actors. While many descendants call for repatriation, there are also religious, cultural and political contexts that may complicate immediate returns. The repatriation of unidentified or only partially identified human remains raises additional practical questions regarding burial and commemorative practices. Against this backdrop, various structural models were considered, ranging from centralised—potentially temporary—competence and memorial sites in Germany or Europe, to regional or continental memorial sites and burial places in the respective regions of origin. In all cases, meaningful involvement of communities of origin in decision-making processes was identified as essential.

A central aspect of the discussion was the interconnection between provenance research and the practical implementation of repatriations. It was emphasised that a successful process requires not only the research phase but also the implementation of the repatriation, on-site consultations, and long-term cooperation to be aligned both conceptually and financially. In this context, from an African perspective, the funding of repatriations was highlighted as a key component of shared responsibility and as an expression of respect towards communities of origin. Transparency and the proactive sharing of information were identified as cornerstones of such collaborations.

Overall, the discussion demonstrated that dealing with human remains of unknown provenance constitutes a complex ethical, scientific and political challenge. Sustainable solutions require long-term institutional structures, reliable funding mechanisms, and internationally coordinated procedures that equally take into account dignity, responsibility and cooperation.

The event was organised by the German Contact Point for Cultural Property and Human Remains from Colonial Contexts. The event formed part of two projects on the handling of human remains from colonial contexts funded by the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

Network Conference "Collections from Colonial Contexts: Challenges, Tasks, Strategies"

Organized by the German Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts

The online network conference "Collections from Colonial Contexts: Challenges, Tasks, Strategies" took place on November 24, 2020 within the framework of Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Its main aims were to present the German Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts to European and international actors, to promote the networking of experts from Germany, Europe and the countries and societies of origin, and to identify and document future cooperation options for the German Contact Point. Further aims were also to identify the needs and interests of people and institutions in the countries and societies of origin and to create communication channels and facilitate encounters that enable a common dialogue characterized by mutual respect.

The conference focused on three areas of activity, as defined in the "Framework Principles for dealing with collections from colonial contexts", which are 1. Transparency and documentation; 2. Return, and 3. Cultural exchange and International Cooperation. In three thematic panels, participants from different regions of the world discussed measures, tasks and current challenges in dealing with collection from colonial contexts, shared practical experiences, and exchanged ideas about future cooperation perspectives. The recommendations for action that resulted from the discussions during the conference are a valuable contribution to overcoming the existing and future challenges and tasks of the German Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts.

The video recordings of the Network conference can be accessed here.