Human remains removed from Scots auction sale after backlash

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An auction house has been forced to make a U-turn and withdraw a human skull and thigh bone from sale after history experts blasted it as "unethical".

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland said it is "wrong to commodify people as objects" and asked Taylor's to remove the items from the sale.

The ex-medical items are listed in the Militaria, Domestic & Rural Bygones sale at Taylor's Auction Rooms in Montrose, Angus on May 5.

On Wednesday the auction house said the sale would no longer go ahead.Jonathan Taylor, salesroom manager, said: "Although legal to sell, and being sold by auctions throughout the UK, the relevant lots have been withdrawn from the auction."Valued at £20 to £40, the skull was listed as "Human skull, ex-medical display complete with springs and hooks" while the human thigh bone, valued in the same range, was also described as "ex-medical display".Antiquarians were also objecting to the sale of a composite model of a human hip bone, also an ex-medical display, valued at £20 to £40.Before the lots were removed, Dr Simon Gilmour, director of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, said: "It is not illegal in Scotland to buy or sell human remains that fall outwith the Human Tissue Act or the laws regarding sepulchre (burial), but we believe it is unethical.Did you know you can keep up to date with the latest news by signing up to our daily newsletter?We send a morning and lunchtime newsletter covering the latest headlines every day.We also send coronavirus updates at 5pm on weekdays, and a round up of the week's must-read stories on Sunday afternoons.Signing up is simple, easy and free.You can pop your email address into the sign up box above, hit Subscribe and we'll do the rest.Alternatively, you can sign