Lost or overused: the legal, ethical and research imperatives for a centralised human remains database in the UK

Lewis, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6224-0278, Pitt, R. and Bohling, S. (2026) Lost or overused: the legal, ethical and research imperatives for a centralised human remains database in the UK. Antiquity, 100 (411). pp. 818-834. ISSN 0003-598X doi: 10.15184/aqy.2026.10328

Abstract/Summary

The skeletal remains of c.25 700 people excavated in the UK are lost. Although recorded in a Human Remains Database (HRD), their location is unknown. We explore the research, legal and ethical implications of our missing heritage. Difficulty accessing human remains from smaller sites stifles research into past lives, while well-known collections suffer damage from overuse. There is no requirement for all institutions to report when collections are moved or reburied, necessitating a comprehensive survey of depositing institutions to locate them. Finally, the need for a centralized database of all human skeletal remains excavated in the UK is re-advocated.