In November 2005, the Australian Government requested the repatriation of three human skulls - believed to be of Australian Aboriginal origin - from Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection. They had been held at the Science Museum on behalf of Wellcome Collection.
The Board of Governors of the Wellcome Trust decided to repatriate these remains, subject to certain conditions. This decision was taken in the context of our policy on human remains, which sets out our approach to the care of all human remains in its collections and draws on guidance issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
To help inform the Board's decision, archive investigations were carried out into the provenance, history and use of these particular remains and a wide range of independent expert opinion consulted. On the evidence provided, the Board considered that the likely cultural, spiritual and religious significance of the remains to Australian Aboriginal peoples in this particular case outweighed their potential scientific, educational and historical value.
The Board specified that the remains be repatriated, according to the following conditions:
- the skulls be handled in an appropriate manner on their return, through the National Museum of Australia's Repatriation Unit and with due consideration to the communities to which the remains belong
- every effort be made to trace the provenance of each skull once they reach Australia (and if it were to be discovered that they are not in fact of Australian Aboriginal origin, consider arrangements for their return to the Science Museum)
- the Science Museum made a complete record of the three skulls before repatriation was undertaken.
In taking this decision, and in accordance with our policy, the Board highlighted the importance of considering all claims for the return of remains on the basis of first principles, including intellectual freedom, with each request being considered on a case-by-case-basis.
The three skulls were acquired by the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum between 1933 and 1947. Since their acquisition, they have never knowingly been on public display or significantly used in scientific research, and were held in storage in conditions deemed to be respectful to their origin.
The archive documentation relating to the skulls is sparse and often incomplete. It is highly likely that the skulls are of Australian Aboriginal origin, although this cannot be absolutely confirmed until investigations following their return to Australia are completed. The independent experts consulted highlighted the lack of provenance information, but most considered that the remains would have significant cultural, spiritual and religious associations for Australian Aboriginal communities in Northern Australia.
The skulls may have some potential scientific research value, for example in studies of human variation, origin and migration. However, the lack of access to the remains and the uncertainty of their origin make their scientific and educational value imprecise. The historical value of the skulls lies within the context of the history of Henry Wellcome's collection and would not be lost with repatriation.
On balance, the Board decided that the potential benefits of returning these particular skulls, in terms of respect for diversity of beliefs, solidarity and Australian Aboriginal wellbeing, prevailed over the skulls' past, present and future research value.