Glasgow museums remove mummified remains from public view
Glasgow Life said the removals follow a draft policy requiring documented consent and new ethics guidance, with more human remains due to come off display.
- On Wednesday, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum removed Egyptian mummies from display, with Glasgow Life citing a lack of "informed consent from the deceased individual" for the decision.
- The removal aligns with Glasgow Life Museums' draft Human Remains Policy requiring documented consent and follows the International Council of Museums' June 2026 revised Code of Ethics on human remains dignity.
- Items removed include a painted coffin containing the remains of Priest Nekht, a mummified male head, and a mummified foot. A notice now marks the space: "We have removed human remains from this display as a mark of respect."
- Scottish Tory culture spokesman Murdo Fraser condemned the move as "woke madness," while Chris McGovern, a former Downing Street adviser, called it "virtue-signalling, woke nonsense" that short-changes visitors.
- Glasgow Life intends to remove additional archaeological remains from the History Discovery Centre and Scotland's Early People gallery, with plans underway to clear a coffin and mummified remains from St Mungo Museum near Glasgow Cathedral.
57 Articles
57 Articles
The decision to hide human remains out of respect for the deceased was described as a “crazy woke” by a conservative deputy; other institutions keep their collections in sight
The management of Scotland's Hunterian Museum has decided to hide the Egyptian mummy of Lady Shep-en-Hor from public view by wrapping it in synthetic material to preserve the deceased's sanctity. The approximately 2,000-year-old remains of Lady Shep-en-Hor were on display at the University of Glasgow Museum for over 200 years, but they have now been wrapped in high-density polyethylene and left in a partially open sarcophagus, TASS reports, citi…
Glasgow museum pulls its mummies, citing lack of consent from the dead
People hoping to see mummies at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland, were instead treated to a small sign that said, "We have removed human remains from this display as a mark of respect." The museum had removed the remains of an ancient Egyptian priest, a mummified hand, a mummified head and a mummified foot. — Read the rest
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
