Waking the dead

Charles 5 Comments
Charles

 

The six hundred year-old mummy of a Ming Dynasty woman, discovered during roadbuilding, is brought up from her grave by archaeologists. 

Does curiosity about the past really justify disturbing the dead? At the GFG we customarily refer to archaeologists as grave-robbers and resurrection men. 

Source

 

Hat tip to the Funeral Consumers Alliance.

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Kathryn Edwards
Kathryn Edwards
12 years ago

Bad bad bad. I’d want to ask ’em, ‘Wot if it woz ur Mum?’

Jenny Uzzell
12 years ago

This doesn’t seem to be a case of archeological curiosity, as the grave was discovered during road building and would, presumably, have been destroyed by it had the body not been removed. On the wider issue, this is one of the few ethical issues that I find it really hard to work through. I am, and always have been, fascinated by ancient history, religion and archeology. I like seeing the Egyptian mummies in museums and at the same time I find it uncomfortable. In the case of the Egyptian mummies I thik I reconcile it with the thought that the… Read more »

Charles Cowling
12 years ago

It’s a very difficult and vexed area, Jenny. Blanket views on one side or the other can only be unproductive.

Hadn’t come across HAD before and have just spent a very contented half hour there. Highly recommended – and Emma Restall-Orr v much a hero to all at the GFG.

Charles Cowling
12 years ago

Brilliant link, Jenny. Thank you.