The removal of human remains from a sacred site is always a sensitive topic that faces many ethical implications. Russia's approach on the removal of human remains is very different to the rest of the world. As a nation that is very proud of their military achievements and their history of the revolution they do not concern themselves to much with ancient history. In the year 2000 the city of Moscow passes the municipal law on Preservation and Usage of Immovable Historic and Cultural Monuments. This law only ensures the protection of military figures, national heroes, famous people who work in the field of science, art and literature and people who lost their lives fighting for their countries independence. Anything under that title cannot be changed, destroyed or transferred. This exclusive law does not include the protection of ancient human remains.
The tribe of the Altai mountains is an indigenous tribe that has been living their for thousands of years, before the Russian colonizers. After losing the Siberian Ice Maiden in 1993 because the Russian law doesn't cover this aspect, the Altai people were distraught. "Our princess must be reburied immediately, everybody here agrees. Having her in a laboratory might be good for the scientists but it has brought only bad for us."Tatyana Kazantseva. The people today still have not been reunited, Aulkhan Djatkambayev, head of the administration has lead the people in this cause. Unfortunately the cries and pleads of these people have not been meet. "Burying the mummy would make us a laughing stock of the world scientific community."Vyacheslav Molodin, of the Russian Academy of sciences.
This poses the question, who owns these remain? Shouldn't the remains belong to its people along with the region it was found in? Or should the remains been shown for the whole world to see? In preserving the remains, (role of the scientific community) the remains were damaged. Mold grew on the Siberian Ice Maiden and she had undergone a tanning process. Also her remains were damaged during transportation. Should these people really be held responsible for these remains if it was untouched within natures hands?
After losing the Siberian Ice Maiden the Altai people have claimed that terrible things have occurred, such as earthquakes. It is beyond doubt that these people have been experiencing earthquakes but Molodin says. "As for the earthquakes, the Altai has always been a high risk zone for earthquakes."
This issue has been extremely lengthy and constantly poses questions as to who own the remains. This is because it is complex decision to make and there are always to sides who have conflicting opinions.
The tribe of the Altai mountains is an indigenous tribe that has been living their for thousands of years, before the Russian colonizers. After losing the Siberian Ice Maiden in 1993 because the Russian law doesn't cover this aspect, the Altai people were distraught. "Our princess must be reburied immediately, everybody here agrees. Having her in a laboratory might be good for the scientists but it has brought only bad for us."Tatyana Kazantseva. The people today still have not been reunited, Aulkhan Djatkambayev, head of the administration has lead the people in this cause. Unfortunately the cries and pleads of these people have not been meet. "Burying the mummy would make us a laughing stock of the world scientific community."Vyacheslav Molodin, of the Russian Academy of sciences.
This poses the question, who owns these remain? Shouldn't the remains belong to its people along with the region it was found in? Or should the remains been shown for the whole world to see? In preserving the remains, (role of the scientific community) the remains were damaged. Mold grew on the Siberian Ice Maiden and she had undergone a tanning process. Also her remains were damaged during transportation. Should these people really be held responsible for these remains if it was untouched within natures hands?
After losing the Siberian Ice Maiden the Altai people have claimed that terrible things have occurred, such as earthquakes. It is beyond doubt that these people have been experiencing earthquakes but Molodin says. "As for the earthquakes, the Altai has always been a high risk zone for earthquakes."
This issue has been extremely lengthy and constantly poses questions as to who own the remains. This is because it is complex decision to make and there are always to sides who have conflicting opinions.