18 ancient Egyptian human skulls have been removed from auctions organized by Semley Auctioneers in Great Britain. This happened after the statement of a member of parliament that their sale would perpetuate the atrocities of colonialism.
The lots that were put up for sale were the skulls of 10 men, 5 women and 3 individuals of unknown gender. The approximate price of each was 200-300 pounds sterling. These skulls were brought by British soldiers and archaeologist Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, who founded the Pitt-Rivers Museum at Oxford University in 1884.
Some of the skulls on display
Semley Auctioneers
The website of the auction house said that some of these skulls came from Thebes and dated from 1550 to 1292 BC. They were part of the lesser-known collection of the British archaeologist, which was in the private museum of his estate in Farnham, Dorset.
“This vile trade perpetuates a dark legacy of exploitation, colonialism and dehumanization. This is a gross violation of human dignity and an affront to the memory of those whose lives were unjustly taken or whose final resting places were desecrated," said MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Chair of the Cross-Party Parliamentary Group on African Reparations.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
theguardian.com
After Bell Ribeiro-Addy's speech, the management of Semley Auctioneers withdrew all previously exhibited skulls from sale.
It should be noted that Great Britain is a country with strict rules regarding the storage, handling and display of human remains.
Source: theguardian.com
