UK Auction House Withdraws Naga Human Skull from Sale Following Protests

Protests from Nagaland prompted a UK auction house to remove a 19th-century Naga human skull from sale. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation demanded its repatriation, highlighting colonial exploitation. The removal is a significant step in respecting Indigenous cultures and addressing historical wrongs.

A UK-based auction house, Swan Auctions in Oxfordshire, has removed a 19th-century Naga human skull from an online sale after facing backlash from Nagaland. The skull, along with other anthropological items, was initially listed for sale at a starting bid of £2,100. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), a Naga civil society group, strongly opposed the auction, calling for the repatriation of the human remains. Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also urged the Indian government to intervene.

FNR convener Wati Aier condemned the auction, highlighting the violent history of British colonial expeditions in Nagaland, during which human remains were taken. The sale of the skull was viewed as a continuation of dehumanizing stereotypes about the Naga people, who were often labeled as "savages" by colonial powers.

The auction house quickly responded to the protests, expressing that they were unaware of the cultural sensitivities and have since removed the skull from the sale. Naga anthropologist Dolly Kikon praised this outcome, calling it a historic moment in the broader effort to restore dignity and respect to Indigenous communities. Kikon emphasized that while this removal marks a victory, the fight against dehumanization and the legal sale of human remains must continue.

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The protests and subsequent removal underscore the significance of respecting Indigenous cultures and histories, highlighting the importance of repatriation of ancestral remains.