Repatriation and Erasing the Past
Repatriation and Erasing the Past by Elizabeth Weiss, published by University of Florida Press in 2020, is a comprehensive examination of the contentious issue surrounding the repatriation of human remains from museums and laboratories to ancestral burial grounds. This 264-page book presents insights from both an anthropological and legal standpoint, addressing the implications of repatriation laws on research and the study of past peoples through skeletal analysis.
In this edition, Weiss and co-author James Springer delve into the complexities of laws such as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), exploring significant legal cases like the Kennewick Man and the Havasupai genetics lawsuits. The authors argue for the importance of continued curation of human remains in anthropological research, critiquing the current repatriation laws and advocating for a focus on scientific inquiry. Readers will find a thorough discussion that intertwines social science, anthropology, and indigenous studies, making it a relevant resource for those interested in the intersections of these fields.
Official synopsis Publisher
Engaging a longstanding controversy important to archaeologists and indigenous communities, Repatriation and Erasing the Past takes a critical look at laws that mandate the return of human remains from museums and laboratories to ancestral burial grounds. Anthropologist Elizabeth Weiss and attorney James Springer offer scientific and legal perspectives on the way repatriation laws impact research.
Weiss discusses how anthropologists draw conclusions about past peoples through their study of skeletons and mummies and argues that continued curation of human remains is important. Springer reviews American Indian law and how it helped to shape laws such as NAGPRA (the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act). He provides detailed analyses of cases including the Kennewick Man and the Havasupai genetics lawsuits. Together, Weiss and Springer critique repatriation laws and support the view that anthropologists should prioritize scientific research over other perspectives.
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