In the fall of 2024, the Provost’s Working Group for Human Remains finalized the Principles Governing the Use of Osteological Samples at Dartmouth. This ethical framework, which addresses the use, curation, and repatriation of human osteological remains, was presented to the Provost and subsequently approved. The results of this work, along with an inventory and rearticulation of the non-Native osteological remains, were also presented to Dartmouth’s Senior Leadership Team.
The creation of these guiding principles followed a series of working group meetings, during which members researched other osteological collections, explored the historical mistreatment of human remains, consulted with repatriation experts from across the country, and sought guidance from legal and ethical experts. Additionally, the Program Manager for Osteological Review, in collaboration with Dartmouth’s NAGPRA Coordinator, spent much of the 2023-2024 academic year examining the special collections housed at Rauner Library. Through this research, information and historical insights related to the osteological collections were gathered and incorporated into the working group discussions.
Phase II of the project, which focused on the rearticulation of the osteological materials, has neared completion. So far, approximately thirty individuals have been partially reassociated. These remains were separated from the rest of the collection and cataloged into Osteoware, a skeletal inventory database. Doing so allows Dartmouth to establish chain of custody, or documentation of where the remains are held. Additionally, ten fully articulated individuals were collected from the Geisel School of Medicine and are now being housed with the rest of the osteological collection.[KA1]
With the beginning of Phase III of the work, osteological remains will be prepared for disposition. The disposition type will vary among the sample and is based on the original source of the remains. When the occasion arises, the Program Manager will work with local representatives to facilitate repatriation and reburial when appropriate. Every effort will be made to return remains that can be traced to a specific location to that area. Remains that cannot be repatriated will be disposed of in accordance with the decisions made during Phase I, which focused on finding an appropriate burial site for non-Native remains that could not be fully reassociated. Potential disposition methods include cremation and burial. A small ceremony will be held to honor these individuals.
NAGPRA Update
Significant progress has also been made with the ancestral remains and collections that fall under the purview of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). In the fall of 2024, the Hood Museum’s NAGPRA team (Jami Powell, NAGPRA Officer and Emily Andrews, NAGPRA Coordinator) submitted a corrected and updated inventory to the National NAGPRA Program on behalf of the College. Since then, our focus has been consultation with tribal nations with the goal of working together to determine the most respectful and thoughtful path forward for the repatriation of all Native American ancestors currently in our care.
Two repatriations of ancestral remains were completed in 2024, and we are actively facilitating three additional repatriations which will take place during the Spring and Summer of this year. We understand that the gradual nature of this process can be challenging for those eager to see the return of these ancestors. However, we are fully committed to ensuring that every tribal nation with a potential affiliation has the opportunity to review the information and participate in the consultation process. Through thoughtful, transparent, and respectful consultation and collaboration with tribes, we are able to honor the sovereignty of these nations as well as the dignity of the ancestors.