Oxford University approves return of 39 Naga ancestral remains from UK museum
Oxford University Council has approved the return of 39 Naga ancestral remains held at the Pitt Rivers Museum, with repatriation expected by year-end.
The University of Oxford's Council has approved the return of 39 ancestral human remains from the Naga tribe, held at the Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) in the UK. This marks a significant step towards repatriating remains taken during the colonial era to their homeland. The repatriation, expected to be completed by the year's end, aims to provide closure to an initiative jointly undertaken by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), Recover Restore and Decolonise (RRaD), and various Naga tribe bodies.
PRM director Laura Van Broekhoven confirmed the decision in a letter to FNR convener Wati Aier, expressing hope for the commencement of work towards bringing the Naga ancestors back to their homeland. Repatriation for the Nagas is about more than just the return of bones; it signifies the return of memory to where it belongs and is an essential step towards justice, dignity, healing, and wholeness.
The PRM houses over 6,000 Naga artefacts, though a portion of the remains will require further arrangements for a dignified burial with the state government. The repatriation process began with a Naga delegation visiting the UK in 2025, meeting with representatives from several British museums that hold Naga belongings and human remains, including the British Museum, Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and Manchester University.
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