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Oxford returns remains of 39 Naga people to Nagaland
The University of Oxford has returned the remains of 39 Naga people to a delegation from Nagaland, India, after they were taken during British colonial rule. The handover at the Pitt Rivers Museum marks a step towards addressing the colonial collection of human remains and returning them to their communities.
Most of the remains are skulls and are expected to be buried beneath a joint memorial in Nagaland. They had been displayed for decades before being removed from public view in 2020; the museum holds more than 6,000 objects associated with Naga culture, including 219 items listed as human remains. The return followed a formal request by Naga representatives in 2025, and tribal leaders have questioned whether the remains were freely given.
In short
- Oxford returned 39 ancestral remains to Nagaland.
- Most are skulls taken during British colonial rule.
- Naga leaders plan a joint memorial burial.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by BBC World as “Oxford museum returns ancestral Naga skulls to India”.