Provenance research on the non-European anthropological collection of the Rostock University Medical Center
- Arbeitsbereich Geschichte der Medizin, Universitätsmedizin Rostock
- Institut für Anatomie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock
Prof. Dr. med. Ekkehardt Kumbier
E-Mailekkehardt.kumbier@med.uni-rostock.de
Dr. phil. Anna-Maria Begerock
E-Mailanna-maria.begerock@med.uni-rostock.de
The History of Medicine division and the Institute for Anatomy of the Rostock University Medical Center are examining the collection of non-European human skulls that are in the Anatomical Institute since 150 years.
In the preparatory phase of the project, the skulls were recorded in a catalogue.
The first project phase involves research in archives for an exact founding date for the collection as well as sources of supply for the skulls and collectors. This is particularly important in order to be able to evaluate circumstances and practices at a later date with regard to suspected acquisition contexts of injustice. This almost historical research is supported by other disciplines, involving anthropology and forensics.
A workshop will take place on March 5th, 2021 on the current challenges in provenance research with human remains from colonial contexts in university collections. Here, experts who work with such collections will put their experiences and perspectives up for discussion. An essential aspect here is the ethically good handling of these "human remains". As a follow-up, the contributions to the workshop will be published online and a manual will be created. This event further enables to network with scientists who are active in comparable collections.
In a following phase of the project, contact with source communities will be expanded, to discuss the further handling of the collection. In addition, the importance of provenance research for dealing with one's own collection history is conveyed in student teaching, so that long-term awareness of this topic can be achieved.
The results of the project are made transparent by publications. The website of the Department of History of Medicine provides bilingual information on the project (German-English). In order to improve the way the skulls are handled in the collection, the current exhibition will be modified and a special exhibition will be shown to rethink the way human remains in showcases are handled.
(c) Arbeitsbereich Geschichte der Medizin / Institut für Anatomie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock.