Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is organised thematically around topics such as: presenting death, collecting of the dead, ethics and scientific investigations, decolonisation and shifting perspectives, death and dying in 21st century museums, and public education and engagement. It investigates the decisions around public display and the exhibition of human remains and/or images of remains. The book explores the implications and connections between death and museums, galleries, libraries, archives, and heritage fields. It takes a diverse and global approach, including many perspectives, not just those of Western academia. The book provides a foundation for debate and a reference for how the dead are treated within the public arena, and galvanises the call for more ethical frameworks and strategies for collaboration, particularly with descendant communities.