Scottish Museum Faces Backlash Over Mummy Removal
A museum in Scotland is facing criticism for taking down its mummy exhibit, citing a lack of consent from the deceased.
This decision was made by Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, where the Egyptian mummy display has been removed. The museum has placed a sign where the coffin used to be, stating, “We have removed human remains from this display as a mark of respect.”
Items taken off display include a coffin belonging to Nekht, a priest, as well as a mummified right hand found in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings and a mummified male head along with a right foot.
Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Tory culture spokesman, criticized this action, calling it “woke madness at its most ridiculous.” He expressed concern that society is becoming so focused on contemporary views that it is losing sight of its history. “Visitors go to museums to learn about ancient civilizations, not to find history tucked away because it doesn’t align with current ideological beliefs,” he added.
A user on social media shared their disappointment, noting they had taken their daughter—who is really fascinated by ancient Egypt—to the museum only to find the mummy exhibit closed. “My daughter has a book about the ancient Egyptians and was excited to see the mummy. But it wasn’t there,” the father explained. “All ‘human remains’ were gone, replaced by a sign for exhibits that had been there for years.”
Another individual remarked on social media that the ancient Egyptians intended to be remembered forever and would have appreciated people honoring them. “That was the purpose of their tombs and pyramids,” they said.
Conversely, one more commenter cynically noted, “Now the mummy gets to decay in the unregulated basement. How respectful.”
Additionally, the Daily Mail reported that Glasgow Life, the charity overseeing the museum, is planning to remove more archaeological remains from the History Discovery Centre and the Scotland’s Early People gallery at Kelvingrove. They stated, “Once we finish at Kelvingrove, we will also remove a coffin and mummified remains on display in St. Mungo Museum.”
