Museum to return mummy to Egypt

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow has decided to return the remains of an ancient Egyptian priest, Nekht, to Egypt. The museum removed the mummy from display last month, citing a lack of consent from the deceased or their descendants.

The mummy, along with a mummified male head, right foot, and hand, was taken off public view. The museum explained that the remains were not visible to the public and remained within the coffin, which was originally excavated at the necropolis of Beni Hasan.

Nekht, who lived between 1985BC and 1797BC, had his remains reburied after decay, as the coffin was likely made for a child. The museum noted the decision to remove the remains was a mark of respect.

The Telegraph reported that the mummy will be returned to Egypt following a repatriation request. This follows similar cases where repatriated mummies have been displayed in Egyptian museums, such as the mummy of Ramses I, which was returned to Egypt in 2003 and later displayed at the Luxor Museum.

Other museums have also taken steps to remove human remains from display, including the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum, which removed the remains of Lady Shep-En-Hor after over 200 years of public display. The museum stated that the remains should be treated with privacy and respect.

The repatriation of Nekht’s remains is part of a broader trend of returning cultural artifacts to their countries of origin, including efforts by Nigeria, Ghana, and India to reclaim items taken during the colonial era.