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The ethics and deontology of the conservation-restoration of human remains in the United States is explored in this article. Most indigenous people venerate human remains. When considering care, treatment, storage, display, or research there are typically ideological intensions and ethics, cultural traditions of appropriateness, and legal regulations that must be considered. Conservators need to be responsive to legislative changes and to calls from descendant communities. Conservation has moved away from treatment to a responsive and collaborative role in research, analysis, or repatriation. This paper gives an introduction to propriety and impropriety of conservation related to NAGPRA. Cet article examine l’éthique et la déontologie de la conservation-restauration de restes humains aux États-Unis. La plupart des peuples indigènes vénèrent les restes humains. La conservation, la restauration, la présentation, le stockage, ainsi que l’analyse des restes humains soulèvent les questions éthiques de la finalité intellectuelle, du respect des traditions culturelles et du dispositif légal en vigueur. Les restaurateurs doivent rester attentifs à l’évolution du droit et aux demandes des populations concernées. Ils limitent désormais leurs interventions pour privilégier la collaboration éclairée dans la recherche, l’analyse ou le rapatriement. Cet article évoque aussi le cadre fixé par le NAGPRA, la loi fédérale sur la protection et le rapatriement des tombes d’Amérindiens.

Resumen es: We explore the hypothesis that small combs coming from AZ71, PLM4, PLM6, and CAM8 archaeological sites in Northern Chile were produced specifically to re...

Diversos investigadores han postulado la existencia en la prehistoria de sistemas sociales estratificados y multietnico en las areas costeras del norte de Chile. El presente estudio, utilizando los textiles de 436 momias de tres sitios (Az-140, Az-71 y Plm-9) en Arica, Chile, ha permitido una reevaluacion de la organizacion social y el desarrollo de una cronologia nueva. Los textiles asociados con las momias fueron analizados en cuanto a las caracteristicas de la lana, el tejido, las tintas, los embellecimientos de las superficies, la forma, la reparacion y el estilo. Tambien se calculo un puntaje de calidad para cada textil. Al contrario de las expectativas, los textiles, especialmente las camisas, indicaron que los individuos estudiados no eran etnicamente diversos, debido a que se encontro un surtido de estilos de camisas en los tres sitios y muchos individuos tenian una variedad de estilos. El estatus fue evaluado usando la calidad de textiles y las cantidades de bienes funerarios no textiles. Las diferencias de estatus fueron evidentes, pero no extremas, sugiriendo que existia el estatus adquirido, pero no el rango adscrito. Finalmente, a base de 32 fechas radiocarbonicas, parece que las culturas conocidas como Cabuza, Maitas, San Miguel, Loreto Viejo y Desarrollo Regional no eran sucesivas temporalmente, sino que representan estilos superpuestos del mismo grupo de gente en Arica entre 900-1400 DC

Little has been written about the roles of conservators in regard to the preservation of human remains. This article examines the new challenges that face conservators as we become more involved with human remains under the new laws and approaches that protect indigenous community rights. The authors explore three areas critical to this debate, namely conservation expertise, training and outreach. Three scenarios for the conservator's role are presented. The authors suggest conservators should aim for the third role, that of ‘contributing colleague’, especially in the multidisciplinary and highly sensitive area involving the study of human remains. Also presented is a case study involving teamwork with the Kennewick Man remains. Though the discussion is limited to applications of preservation issues to human remains, the concepts have wider applications in the conservation field in general.

A ndean tapestries are impressive for bold design, brilliant color, and exquisite craftsmanship. This immediate impression belies a vast body of information below the surface, data that might suggest material selection, production techniques, regional trade, cultural borrowing, innovation, workshops, artist's hand, and ultimately provenance. These data are important because most of the world's collections of Andean textiles contain minimal