Devangi Chandok, Jadetimes Staff
In a landmark step toward addressing the legacy of British imperialism, the University of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum has officially agreed to return dozens of ancestral human remains to their homeland in the mountainous borderlands of northeastern India and Myanmar.
The decision by the University of Oxford Council authorizes the repatriation of 39 sets of human remains, primarily skulls and bones, belonging to the Naga people. Taken over 100 years ago during the height of British colonial rule, these remains have long been stored and displayed thousands of miles away from the communities that revere them.
For the Naga people, who inhabit parts of Nagaland in India and neighboring regions of Myanmar, the return is deeply spiritual. Traditional Naga beliefs hold that the spirits of ancestors cannot rest when separated from their native land.
"They've been here in a foreign land for more than a century," said Dr. Vihuto Asumi, President of the Sumî Hoho Naga tribe. "We believe that their spirits are still not at rest, so by doing this, we believe it will bring spiritual healing, not only to the ancestral remains here but to everyone who died during the head-hunting days."
A Century-Old Colonial Legacy
The Pitt Rivers Museum holds what is considered the world’s largest collection of Naga cultural heritage, boasting several thousand items. Most were shipped to England by John Henry Hutton, an anthropologist and administrator serving in the British Indian Civil Service during the early 20th century.
Among the vast trove are 219 items categorized as human remains, including the 39 ancestral bones set for return, alongside nearly 180 sacred objects woven with human hair.
"We know that this week will be one where we will feel both grief and sadness when looking back on that past, and also where hope is possible as we work towards reconciliation and healing," said Prof. Laura Van Broekhoven, Director of the Pitt Rivers Museum
The Push for Decolonization
The repatriation follows years of critical self-examination within Western cultural institutions. In 2020, the Pitt Rivers Museum took a major step by pulling all human remains from public display as part of a broader "decolonization process."
The momentum accelerated after a delegation of Naga leaders visited Oxford, inspecting the collection and making a formal declaration requesting the return of their ancestors' remains.
Key Facts of the Repatriation
Origin of Remains: Naga ancestral lands across Northeast India and Myanmar.
Holding Institution: Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford.
Items Selected for Return: 39 ancestral human remains consisting of skulls and bones.
Historical Collector: John Henry Hutton, colonial administrator and anthropologist.
Timeline of Action: Public display ceased in 2020; formal return requested by Naga delegation; repatriation approved by Oxford Council.
Bringing the Ancestors Home
Museum officials are currently finalizing plans for a formal handover ceremony alongside representatives of the Naga delegation. Naga community members will then make the journey back to their homeland, personally escorting their ancestors across continents to their final resting places.
This historic agreement highlights a growing global movement among major museums to reevaluate colonial-era acquisitions, prioritize Indigenous sovereignty, and seek reconciliation through the physical return of stolen heritage.
