The University of Oxford Council has formally approved the repatriation of 39 ancestral human remains belonging to the Naga people of northeastern India and Myanmar, ending more than a century of display at the Pitt Rivers Museum. The decision, made on 13 July 2026, represents a significant step in the museum's ongoing effort to address the legacy of British colonial-era acquisitions and represents a milestone in what the institution describes as a path towards healing.
Skulls, bones, and other human remains—including parts of skulls, a finger, and a piece of skin with hair—have been held in the Oxford institution's collection since they were taken during the period of British colonial rule in India and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The remains have been part of the museum's vast Naga collection, which scholars regard as the world's largest assemblage of such artefacts, containing several thousand items in total.
The repatriation process has been lengthy and collaborative. According to reporting on the announcement, the dialogue between the Naga community and the museum spanned six years of negotiation, beginning in 2020 when the institution removed all human remains from public display as part of what it termed a "decolonisation process."
How did the remains come to Oxford?
The majority of the Naga artefacts in the museum's possession were acquired during the British colonial administration of India and Myanmar. Many were collected by John Henry Hutton, a colonial administrator in the Indian Civil Service and trained anthropologist, who transferred them to the Pitt Rivers Museum more than a century ago. The circumstances of their acquisition reflect the power imbalances inherent in colonial-era collecting practices, with items seized by British administrators during their rule.
What sparked the decision to return the remains?
The formal request for repatriation came from a Naga delegation that visited Oxford in 2025, initiating what would become a structured process of dialogue and reconciliation. The museum's own records indicate that the decision followed a Naga-led process of dialogue, research, and reconciliation supported by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and the museum's collaborators. The University of Oxford Council's approval came after careful consideration of provenance and community wishes.
Dr Vihuto Asumi, President of the Sumî Hoho Naga tribe, articulated the spiritual significance of the return:
They've been here in a foreign land for more than a century. We believe that their spirits are still not at rest - so by doing this, we believe it will bring spiritual healing, not only to the ancestral remains here but to everyone who died during the head-hunting days.
What is the scope of the repatriation?
The Pitt Rivers Museum's broader Naga collection encompasses 219 items classified as human remains and 178 objects believed to contain human hair, in addition to thousands of other artefacts. The current repatriation concerns only the 39 ancestral remains that have been formally identified and approved for return. According to reporting on the decision, the original claim encompassed 40 sets of ancestral remains; the University of Oxford Council declined to return one additional set because it lacked clear provenance as Naga material.
Prof Laura Van Broekhoven, the museum's director, reflected on the significance of the moment:
It has been a long journey to get to this moment. We know that this week will be one where we will feel both grief and sadness when looking back on that past, and also where hope is possible as we work towards reconciliation and healing.
What happens next?
The museum is organising an official handover ceremony scheduled for November, when a Naga delegation will travel to Oxford to receive the ancestral remains. Following the ceremony, the Naga will accompany the remains home to Nagaland, with some returning to their ancestral homeland for the first time in more than a century. The museum expects the remains to arrive in Nagaland before the end of 2026.
Key Facts
- The University of Oxford Council approved the repatriation of 39 ancestral Naga remains on 13 July 2026, ending their display at the Pitt Rivers Museum after more than 100 years.
- The remains include skulls, bones, a finger, and a piece of skin with hair, all acquired during British colonial rule in India and Myanmar.
- The Pitt Rivers Museum holds the world's largest collection of Naga artefacts, most acquired by colonial administrator and anthropologist John Henry Hutton.
- The repatriation followed six years of dialogue and negotiation between the Naga community and the museum, beginning with a formal request in 2025.
- A handover ceremony is planned for November, with the remains expected to arrive in Nagaland before the end of 2026.
