The Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford has announced its largest repatriation of human remains, returning 39 ancestral remains to the Indigenous Naga people of India. This significant move follows years of negotiations and is part of a broader international effort to address the colonial-era acquisitions of Western institutions.
The remains, which include a warrior’s cranium, a woman’s skull, and a young person’s jaw, have been in the museum’s collection for over a century. Initially, 40 remains were requested for return, but one was excluded due to unclear provenance. The handover is scheduled for November 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the museum’s decolonization process.
The Journey of the Naga Remains
The Naga ancestral remains were collected in the early 20th century by British colonial administrators, including J.P. Mills and J.H. Hutton. Many of these objects were acquired unethically, often under duress and against the wishes of the Naga community. The remains were part of an exhibit titled “Treatment of Dead Enemies,” which displayed them as “headhunting trophies” alongside other Indigenous remains.
In 2020, the museum removed all human remains from public display as part of its efforts to decolonize its collections. Since then, the remains have been stored, and the museum has been working closely with Naga representatives to facilitate their return. A delegation of 20 Naga leaders and scholars visited the museum in June 2025 to view the stored remains and discuss their repatriation.
The Significance of Repatriation
For the Naga people, the repatriation of these ancestral remains is not just about returning bones to their homeland. It is a profound act of healing and unification, allowing memory to return to where it belongs. Ellen Konyak of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) expressed the deep emotional significance of this repatriation, stating, “We bring back the light of our ancestors that was dimmed but never extinguished.”
The Pitt Rivers Museum holds the world’s largest collection of Naga cultural objects, with over 6,000 items in its holdings. The repatriation of these 39 remains is a significant step in addressing the ethical concerns surrounding the acquisition and display of Indigenous artifacts. Museum director Laura Van Broekhoven emphasized the importance of this process, calling it a “Naga-wide movement of healing and unification.”
The Broader Context of Repatriation
The repatriation of the Naga remains is part of a larger international movement to return artifacts and human remains acquired during the colonial era. This movement has gained momentum in recent years, with several high-profile repatriations taking place. In 2022, London’s Horniman Museum returned 72 artifacts to Nigeria, including 12 Benin bronze artifacts. Earlier in 2026, the University of Edinburgh returned the skulls of six people to a Native American group.
These efforts highlight the growing recognition of the need to address the ethical implications of colonial-era acquisitions. The repatriation of the Naga remains is a significant milestone in this ongoing process, demonstrating the commitment of institutions like the Pitt Rivers Museum to decolonize their collections and return cultural heritage to its rightful owners.
