Human remains from Petrie's excavations in Palestine

What is it about?

This article is the result of investigations into the archaeological and skeletal evidence from the excavations of Flinders Petrie in Palestine in the 1920s and 1930s, exploring contemporary attitudes to human remains, their treatment during and after excavation, and subsequent research history. The human remains from this assemblage were first transferred to the biometric laboratory at University College, then on to the Duckworth Laboratory in Cambridge, but despite several attempts to have these individuals studied, they remained unpublished and were subsequently forgotten by the academic community. Our rediscovery of these remains has allowed us to produce the first lab analysis since their excavation, connecting them to their archaeological contexts, while raising several ethical questions about Petrie’s motivations and methods.

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Why is it important?

This investigation uncovers the history of a formerly 'lost' group of human skeletal remains from excavations in Palestine. It raises important ethical issues surrounding their collection and use.