The Hunterian Museum in Glasgow has covered an Egyptian mummy, known as Lady Shep-En-Hor, with a conservation textile, effectively removing her from public view after more than 200 years on display. Museum officials stated that the mummy "deserves privacy in death." The decision follows a similar move by the Glasgow Life arts organization, which removed human remains, including a mummified head, from display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum due to ethical concerns and the absence of documented consent from the deceased.
Glasgow Life cited "contemporary museum practice" for the removal of human remains from its exhibitions. The items taken from Kelvingrove included a painted coffin containing the remains of the priest Nekht, a mummified male head, a mummified right hand, and a mummified foot. These materials are now being held in specialized storage at the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre.
The Hunterian, part of the University of Glasgow, has adopted a policy against the open display of human remains originating from outside the UK. While Lady Shep-En-Hor's ancient Egyptian sarcophagus will remain visible, the mummy herself will no longer be seen. The sarcophagus has been part of the museum's collection since 1820.
Lady Shep-En-Hor is believed to have lived over 2,000 years ago and was originally buried in the Western Necropolis of Thebes in Upper Egypt. Her remains, along with those of her parents, are thought to have been excavated by Italian explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni between 1817 and 1819. The Hunterian considered several options for the remains, including removal, storage, or repatriation to Egypt, ultimately opting to cover the mummy.
Not all institutions in Scotland are following this trend. National Museums Scotland has indicated it has no current plans to remove human remains, including mummified items, from display, emphasizing that such items are handled and curated with sensitivity.
The decisions have drawn criticism, with some public figures labeling the actions as "woke madness." Historian Sir Tom Devine expressed a differing viewpoint, stating that he sees no ethical issue with displaying mummies in established museums as long as they are treated with respect and managed by qualified personnel, especially when obtaining consent from living relatives is impossible.