The American Museum of Natural History in New York City will remove human remains from its public displays over the next eight weeks and update its policies regarding the collection. The decision follows an investigation by Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime at John Jay College, whose report for Hyperallergic raised ethical and legal concerns about the acquisition of approximately 12,000 individuals' remains held by the museum. Museum president Sean Decatur announced the removal as the "right course of action," acknowledging that the remains were collected without consent and often used to advance racist scientific agendas.
This move matters because it reflects a growing reckoning among major museums with the problematic history of human remains collections, many of which were acquired through colonial violence, grave robbing, and racist research practices. The museum's commitment to community consultation, repatriation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and the removal of remains from display sets a significant precedent for other institutions. It also highlights ongoing debates about museum ethics, the legacy of white supremacy in scientific research, and the rights of Indigenous and descendant communities to control the remains of their ancestors.