Focal Interest
Focal Interest
AI Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research

This page presents an AI-generated summary of a published research paper. The original authors did not write or review this article. [See full disclosure ↓]

Publishing process signals: STRONG — reflects the venue and review process. — venue and review process.

Legacy human remains stewardship should involve descendant communities

A diverse group of eight people sitting in a circle on a rooftop or outdoor terrace, engaged in discussion with a cityscape visible in the background.
Research area:Arts and HumanitiesTask forceCommunity engagement

What the study found

The study found broad support for a mutual, formal partnership in which descendant communities are empowered to help decide the study and disposition of legacy collections of human remains.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors say this matters because legacy skeletal and other human remains in scientific institutions have long been handled without enough ethical attention, and the study suggests that dialogue and community partnership should guide their stewardship. The authors conclude that institutions should work with descendant communities when such partnerships are desired.

What the researchers tested

The researchers report the first convergent analysis of research priorities and perspectives on these issues from biological anthropologists and a national cross-section of African Americans. They used surveys and discussions with these communities to inform recommendations for AABA policy and related practices.

What worked and what didn't

All groups expressed a desire for mutual, formal partnership and for descendant communities to have decision-making power over legacy collections. The recommendations also call for institutions to inventory remains, determine provenance, identify descendant communities, and contact them using the provided guidelines.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not give detailed survey numbers, sample sizes, or the full set of discussion methods. It also does not describe specific disagreements or limits beyond noting that the work addresses legacy collections, especially those connected to African American communities in the United States.

Key points

  • The study found support for formal partnerships with descendant communities over legacy human remains.
  • Biological anthropologists and a national cross-section of African Americans were both included in the analysis.
  • The authors recommend inventorying remains, determining provenance, identifying descendant communities, and contacting them.
  • The paper says no research should occur without explicit consent from relevant descendant communities or communities of care.
  • The abstract does not provide detailed sample sizes or survey results.

Disclosure

Research title:
Legacy human remains stewardship should involve descendant communities
Authors:
Benjamin M. Auerbach, Fatimah Jackson, Shamsi Daneshvari Berry, Michael L. Blakey, Jennifer Caldwell, Carter Clinton, J. L. Graves, Joseph B. Jones, Ellen Lofaro, Ripan S. Malhi, Carmen Mosley, Phoebe R. Stubblefield
Institutions:
University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Howard University, Western Michigan University, William & Mary, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Repatriation General Hospital, University of Florida
Publication date:
2026-03-01
DOI:
10.1002/ajpa.70213
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by OpenAI. The original authors did not write or review this post.

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