Request made to return mummified priest removed from Kelvingrove display to Egypt
Glasgow Life has confirmed it received a request in the last few days to repatriate the remains of the priest Nekht, but has not said who made it.
The central hall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. File photo. · Photograph: Michael D Beckwith (CC BY 3.0)
The mummified remains of an Egyptian priest recently taken off display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum could be returned to Egypt.
Glasgow Life, which runs the city's museums, confirmed it has received a request in the last few days to repatriate the remains of the priest Nekht, which were displayed in a painted coffin. It could not confirm who made the request. The news was first reported by The Sunday Post.
Removed from view
Last month Glasgow Life removed Nekht's remains, along with a mummified head, foot and hand from the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, from public display at Kelvingrove. It said that without consent from the dead individuals, removing them was more respectful.
The organisation said it intends to keep removing human remains from display as conservation work allows, and that this is likely to take some time. Remains are also being removed from the History Discovery Centre and Scotland's Early People gallery, and work will then begin on a coffin and mummified remains at St Mungo Museum near Glasgow Cathedral.
Where the remains will go
Glasgow Life said a specially built, restricted-access store at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre will eventually house the remains and other sensitive objects.
It pointed to the International Council of Museums' revised code of ethics, published in June, which says museums should uphold the dignity of human remains. Its draft policy proposes that human remains should only be displayed where there is documented, informed consent from the person or their descendants.
Mummies had been on display at Kelvingrove since it opened in 1901.