Human mummified or skeletal remains are invaluable biological archives that provide insights into ancient populations and associated cultures. They attract the attention of both the public and the scientific community due to their symbolic, emotional, and cultural significance.
However, human remains in museum archives and exhibitions present a controversial global cultural challenge. Debates on ethical issues surrounding human remains are intensifying – a trend that aligns with the often-growing interest from the public when encountering human remains in museum settings. In what sense can human remains be regarded as biological archives, and what kinds of questions can their study help answer?
This contribution aims to explore the biological significance of human remains and their potential as resources for bioanthropological research, with examples from studies conducted by the Institute for Mummy Studies at Eurac Research in Bolzano, Italy.
In collaboration with national and international partners, key questions about health, dietary patterns, and cultural and ritualistic traditions have been addressed. Thus, the study of human remains is conducted using a range of multi- and interdisciplinary methods to examine various research aspects (e.g., anthropology, paleogenetic), including their conservation and safeguard. The research results should convey that human remains should not merely evoke wonder or horror, but rather stimulate curiosity for knowledge, as through their study, we can communicate our past.