Remainsbringing

Remainsbringing is a term used in museum, archaeological, and forensic contexts to describe the structured process of moving physical remains from a source location to another site for examination, storage, display, or repatriation. The term emphasizes the logistical and ethical coordination required to handle remains responsibly.

Etymology and scope: The term is a neologism formed from remains and bringing; it is not yet widely standardized, and usage varies. It covers human remains, animal remains, and occasionally skeletal material used in education or research. It is distinct from related practices such as artifact relocation, conservation, or repatriation, though overlaps exist.

Procedures: Typical stages include eligibility assessment, chain-of-custody documentation, legal compliance checks, conservation assessment, packaging and transport planning, and post-move curation. In museum and research settings, metadata about provenance, context, and consent is recorded; where applicable, descendant communities or source nations participate in decisions about disposition.

Ethical and legal considerations: Remainsbringing is governed by ethical codes and laws intended to protect cultural heritage, descendant communities, and privacy. Repatriation requests may lead to return or ceremonial burial, while research-focused moves weigh scientific value against cultural impact.

See also: repatriation, provenance research, mortuary archaeology, artifact curation, chain of custody, cultural heritage law.