An Ethical, Cultural and Historical Background for Cemetery-Based Human Skeletal Reference Collections

OPEN ACCESS-PAID-CC BY-NC-ND In historically Protestant countries, human skeletal reference collections curated by research institutions have been amassed from bodies dissected anatomists, typically unclaimed cadavers morgues and hospitals, or remains donated to science. contrast these anatomy-based donation-based collections, in Roman Catholic countries on mainland Europe Latin America are for the most part derived exhumed modern cemeteries ossuaries at end of mandated interment period. While much has written English about history, context ethical framework anatomy-derived cemetery-based received very little critical attention. The current paper addresses this gap, with particular cemetery-derived Portugal. cultural historical southern is discussed, particularly mortuary traditions influence Napoleonic Code, provide background an overview issues raised collections. Here, general principles that should guide work osteologists working archaeological contexts relevant, as regards consent, dignity respect benefits science education, because unlike their counterparts, include individuals who were once buried.