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Belgian federal scientific institutions (FSIs), universities, regional and local institutions, and private entities house human remains from many different geographical origins, periods and contexts. Some of these human remains were discovered in the framework of archaeological excavations. Others were collected specifically by the Belgian administration(s), colonials and members of scientific societies and museums to create collections with the aim of documenting humans from various geographical and ethnic origins or to preserve human remains from archeological sites. Some human remains collections result also from hand gifts or donations by private collectors during the 19th and 20th centuries. There is currently no complete inventory of these collections and their associated documents.
This survey is designed and produced by members of the BELSPO BRAIN 2.0 project HOME (Human Remains Origin(s) Multidisciplinary Evaluation) in conjunction with FARO (Flemish interface centre for cultural heritage). We are also working with MEMOR who are creating a database of Flemish archeological skeletal collections.
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The aim of this survey on human remains is to understand the scope and range of human remains housed in Belgium. We have tried to design the survey to be as short as possible whilst receiving the maximum amount of information. This will also include all relevant documentation associated with these remains.
In order to obtain the most relevant information, we created several categories of human remains collections:
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1. Human Remains from Belgian origin and historical time
This includes all human remains collected in Belgium (e.g. cemeteries)
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2. Human Remains from European origin and historical time
This includes all human remains collected in Europe (Belgium excluded)
see the list of European countries on Worldometers
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3. Human Remains from the colonial period and context
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- 3.a Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi
This includes all human remains collected during the colonial period or collected within a colonial context (e.g. Congo Free State).
The human remains as a part of an artifact/relic are evaluated in a separate category (see below)
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- 3.b Non-European origin but not Belgian colonies
This includes all human remains collected within a colonial context (e.g. from colonies of other European countries).
The human remains as a part of an artifact/relic are evaluated in a separate category (see below)
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4. Human Mummies
This includes all human mummies (natural and anthropic).
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5. Human Remains as a part of an artifact (incl. religious relics, skull trophies, etc)
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- 5.b Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi
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6. Human fossils (Homo sapiens sapiens)
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- 6.a Belgium
This includes all human remains from the prehistoric period (Upper paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Protohistory)
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- 6.b Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi
This includes all human remains from the prehistoric period according to the local chronologies but pre-colonial period
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- 6.c Rest of the world
This includes all human remains from the prehistoric period according to the local chronologies but pre-colonial period
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7. Fossil hominids
This includes all fossil hominids from other species than Homo sapiens sapiens.
(e.g. Neanderthals, early Homo)
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8. Human bodies, part of bodies or human organs
as a part of a medical collection (anatomical preparations, wet collection)
This includes all human anatomical preparations of Homo sapiens sapiens.
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9. Human Remains from unknown origin
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If the collection you manage is composed of at least one of the categories of Human Remains described above, please participate in our survey: first request a user name and a password. This can be done from a box on your right.
Tell us for which categor(y)ies you are concerned with. We will prepare your survey with only the requested categor(y)ies in order to make it easier for you.
Once you have a username and password – you can log into the system. On the right hand side of the screen, you will see an online help of how to fill out the survey. The survey will ask if you have any of the following human remains. For this, you only need to fill out the section which is relevant to the remains housed in your institution/collection.
As part of the survey, you can decide if you agree with the anonymous use of your data in the framework of the HOME project. You can also decide if the data or a part of it can be made public. We ask that you provide additional information about this collection if it is available, such as inventories, provenance and the documentation associated with the collection. This will help us to understand the collections better and also have an idea of how these different human remains came to be in Belgian institutions. We also wish to know if there have been any requests for repatriation for the human remains that you are holding. Finally, we will ask you if you have digitised any of your collections.
Please see the executive summary for more information on the HOME project.
Many thanks in advance for your participation,
The HOME and FARO teams
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