Research
Application for access
The Museum encourages research into its collections. Anyone wishing to use human remains for research purposes must complete and submit a copy of the Museum’s Application for Access to Human Skeletal Remains.
Notes attached to the Form cover the Conditions and Regulations for access. Applications will be vetted by the Senior Curator of Human Osteology for Museum and Archive collections and by a MoLAS Osteologist for collections still in the care of MoLAS. Further advice will be sought as necessary.
Bench fees
Any stewardship offered by the Centre for Human Archaeology is subject to staffing levels. Acceptance of these conditions will attract a ‘Bench Fee’, The current rate is £50 per day or £200 per week from autumn 2007, reviewed annually. The senior curator of osteoarchaeology will advise on discounted rates for periods longer than a week.
Before visiting the centre
Prior to visiting the centre we strongly advise researchers to consult the collection information available from our web page. Through the data downloads it is possible to select individual skeletons by context from the different cemeteries, enabling selection of individuals most appropriate for study.
Studying at the centre
Access to human remains will be provided under the close supervision of the Senior Curator of Human Osteology or one of the Museum’s osteological staff, or in some circumstances by a member of the archive or curatorial team with delegated responsibility from the Senior Curator of Human Osteology.
Where access is granted researchers will be provided with a copy of the Museum’s Research Ethics document. Ancillary documents will be issued as appropriate to cover any other conditions.
Working hours are from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday (weekends not available)
Researchers working at the Centre for Human Bioarchaeology, its offices and the rotunda stores are not covered by insurance.
Destructive sampling
The Museum supports research that involves destructive testing because it is aware that this may at times prove necessary. However, at the same time, the skeletons in the London collection represent a ‘wasting resource’ from that point of view and we wish to preserve the collection intact for as long as it is deemed to retain research potential. Hence, applications to perform destructive analysis will be carefully scrutinised.
The researcher may be invited to consider non-invasive alternatives. S/he will be asked to keep the number of samples to a bare minimum. Other conditions are summarised in the notes attached to the Form Application for Permission to Sample Human Remains.
Forms for research
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