ABSTRACT

While many Indigenous Ancestral Remains were donated to museums, or purchased from individuals, a smaller but significant number were acquired from dealers and auction houses. Using case studies from New Zealand, Australia and the United States, the chapter explores their little documented role in the supply of Indigenous Ancestors, funerary objects, sacred/ceremonial items, and cultural patrimony to institutions and private collectors, and what this can reveal about the use of Indigenous Ancestral Remains as commodities in such a profit-driven sector. The chapter also considers the practical challenges that this type of acquisition history presents for repatriation, and provides a brief overview of the continuing trade today.