Bones under the Hammer! Human skull is withdrawn from auction

AUCTIONEERS have been forced to withdraw a human skull from a sale after history experts claimed it was ‘unethical’.

The skull and a human thigh bone, thought to have been used as medical specimens, were due to go under the hammer next Thursday in a ‘Militaria, Domestic & Rural Bygones’ sale at Taylor’s Auction Rooms, in Montrose, Angus.

Both were valued at £20-£40, though a bid of £340 for the skull, pictured, had already been received.

But the auction house has now pulled the items after a backlash.

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland took to Twitter to voice its disapproval and called on people to contact the auction house and object to the sale.

Director of the society, Dr Simon Gilmour, said: ‘We’re against the buying and selling of human remains, basically body parts, for ethical reasons.’

He said that while it is not illegal – falling outside the Human Tissue Act and common law sepulchre (dealing with burials) – they believe it to be unethical. He added: ‘It is illegal to traffic living people, why would this change when someone dies? All human remains should be treated with dignity and respect, whether reburied or dealt with as per their personal wishes.’

The British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO) has said it is ‘ethically objectionable to commodify the remains of people as objects’.

Dr Gilmour said he had even seen a skull used as a candle-holder.

Referencing the statement from BABAO, he said: ‘We strongly agree that it is wrong to commodify people as objects.’

He added that the society is looking for ways to make it illegal to buy or sell human remains of any provenance.

Jonathan Taylor, of the auctioneers, said: ‘We have discussed the human skull and thigh bone and have decided to withdraw them from auction.

‘They are legal. Skeletons get sold on a comparatively regular basis and it is not unheard of for medical display.’