A consolidated summary of South African human skeletal repositories

IF 2 3区 医学 Q2 ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger Pub Date : 2024-08-29 DOI:10.1016/j.aanat.2024.152326
Athi Baliso , Sadiyah Malek , Victoria E. Gibbon
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Abstract

Aim

Human skeletal repositories are crucial resources for research and education in human biology, variation, anatomy, biocultural frameworks, forensic/medico-legal casework, heritage and understanding the past. In this review paper, we assess the composition of human skeletal repositories in South Africa, along with the ethical and legal frameworks that safeguard their curation.

Methods

The data and information pertaining to local human skeletal repositories were gathered through a combination of literature review and direct contact with local curators for information. Data pertaining to source origins, sample demographics, and temporal distribution (where applicable) were extracted and reporting trends across publications were assessed.

Results

South Africa has 12 main human skeletal repositories, six affiliated with universities and six with museums. There are over 12 300 human skeletal remains housed across these repositories, mainly of cadaveric, archaeological, forensic (medico-legal), and unknown origin. Universities are primarily stewards of large cadaveric collections (n = ± 6 200); however, a few manage archaeological (n = ± 1 300) and forensic repositories (n = ± 1 000). Museums exclusively curate repositories of archaeological origin and approximately ± 3 700 archaeological individuals can be found countrywide.

Conclusions

The ethical challenges faced by South African repositories are deeply connected to the country's colonial and apartheid history. Concerns related to consent, autonomy, cultural sensitivity, data availability and the respectful treatment of the deceased, require constant attention and consideration. We highlight several initiatives undertaken to address these issues, including the implementation of new management approaches by repositories, a shift away from using unclaimed bodies, efforts in deaccessioning and repatriation and an increased focus on community engagement.

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南非人类骨骼库综合摘要。
目的:人类骨骼库是研究和教育人类生物学、变异、解剖学、生物文化框架、法医/医疗法律案件工作、遗产和了解过去的重要资源。在这篇综述论文中,我们评估了南非人类骨骼库的构成,以及保障其收藏的伦理和法律框架:有关当地人类骨骼库的数据和信息是通过文献综述和与当地馆长直接联系获取信息相结合的方式收集的。提取了与来源、样本人口统计学和时间分布(如适用)有关的数据,并对各出版物的报告趋势进行了评估:南非有 12 个主要的人类骨骼库,其中 6 个隶属于大学,6 个隶属于博物馆。这些库房共存放了 12 300 多具人类骨骼遗骸,主要来自尸体、考古、法医(医学法律)和未知来源。大学主要管理大型遗体库(n = ± 6 200);但也有少数大学管理考古库(n = ± 1 300)和法医库(n = ± 1 000)。博物馆专门管理考古资料库,全国范围内大约有± 3 700个考古个体:南非收藏馆面临的伦理挑战与该国的殖民和种族隔离历史有着深刻的联系。与同意、自主性、文化敏感性、数据可用性和尊重死者相关的问题需要持续关注和考虑。我们重点介绍了为解决这些问题而采取的几项举措,包括由存放处实施新的管理方法、不再使用无人认领的遗体、努力取消遗体归还和归还遗体,以及更加注重社区参与。
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来源期刊
Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger
Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger 医学-解剖学与形态学
CiteScore
4.40
自引率
22.70%
发文量
137
审稿时长
33 days
期刊介绍: Annals of Anatomy publish peer reviewed original articles as well as brief review articles. The journal is open to original papers covering a link between anatomy and areas such as •molecular biology, •cell biology •reproductive biology •immunobiology •developmental biology, neurobiology •embryology as well as •neuroanatomy •neuroimmunology •clinical anatomy •comparative anatomy •modern imaging techniques •evolution, and especially also •aging
期刊最新文献
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