Glasgow Museums Receive Request to Return Ancient Priest’s Mummy to Egypt

The operator of Glasgow’s museums announced on 2 November that it had received a request to return to Egypt the mummified remains of an ancient priest named Nekht, which were recently taken off display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Scotland.

Glasgow Life, which operates the museum, confirmed receiving the request but could not say where it came from. According to Sunday Post, “Egyptian authorities” had asked for Nekht’s return.

“We have received a request in the last few days to repatriate the Nekht remains to Egypt,” a spokesperson said. “Glasgow has a well-established process for repatriation requests. We will follow this process to guide our next steps.”

The request follows a report that Nekht and other ancient Egyptian human remains had been removed from public view. Glasgow Life said that displaying remains without documented, informed consent from the deceased or, where appropriate, their descendants was no longer considered respectful.

Nekht is believed to have lived between about 1985 and 1797 B.C. His remains were excavated at Beni Hasan, in Middle Egypt, in the early 20th century and donated to Glasgow in 1923. They had been shown inside a painted coffin in the museum’s Egyptian gallery. Also removed were a mummified male head, right foot and right hand recovered from the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

Under Glasgow Life’s collections policy, requests to return human remains are weighed case by case, considering the legal position, ethical issues and relevant guidance. Cases go first to the council’s Working Group for Repatriation, Restitution and Spoliation, then to the City Administration Committee or another appropriate committee for a final decision. The council owns the collections, and Glasgow Life manages them.

The change reflects shifting museum practice. The International Council of Museums revised its code of ethics this year to say that museums should uphold the inherent dignity of human remains. Glasgow Life’s draft policy would allow public display only with documented, informed consent.

Other archaeological remains are also coming off display at Kelvingrove. Remains already removed will be kept in restricted-access storage unless a repatriation request is considered.