A Northern Ireland auction house has faced criticism from academics for listing a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy head for sale. The item, described as carbon-dated to between 750 and 800 BC, was reportedly brought to the UK by a British soldier during World War One and has remained in a private family's possession for a century. An Indonesian head with a similar dating of 800-750 BC was also mentioned.
One commentator suggested that thousands of similar remains are stored in attics across the UK, with many people displaying them in their homes and finding aesthetic pleasure in them. However, concerns have been raised about the provenance of such items. A task force coordinator noted a significant increase in the sale of human remains online, particularly in the last five years, coinciding with the rise of social media.
The ethical issues are rooted in how these remains were originally acquired. Historical practices have included murder and kidnapping, or individuals selling remains due to poverty. The trade involves wealthy buyers acquiring these artifacts and subsequently selling them at auction. The uses for these remains by collectors are varied, ranging from ritualistic purposes to being fashioned into objects like lamps and earrings. Instances of human remains, such as a child's spine used as a handbag handle, have been sold for substantial sums, highlighting the disturbing nature of the trade.