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UK holds over 263,000 human remains from former colonies, many acquired under colonial-era questionable circumstances, sparking calls for return and transparency.
UK museums, universities, and local authorities hold at least 263,228 recorded human remains, primarily from former colonies, with many acquired during the colonial era under questionable circumstances.
Only 100 institutions provided estimates of individuals represented—about 79,334—while thousands remain unrecorded or unidentified.
Major collections are held by the Natural History Museum, British Museum, and University of Cambridge, with significant numbers from Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
Critics, including MPs and experts, condemn the retention of these remains as a legacy of colonialism, calling it disrespectful and sacrilegious, and demand a national register and mandatory return policies.
Despite some institutions acknowledging colonial origins and supporting ethical reforms, widespread lack of documentation and transparency persists, and the government and key institutions have declined to comment.
El Reino Unido tiene más de 263.000 restos humanos de antiguas colonias, muchos adquiridos bajo circunstancias cuestionables de la era colonial, lo que provocó llamados a la devolución y la transparencia.