Scotland has taken a significant step in the stewardship of its ancient past by appointing its first-ever curator dedicated to archaeological human remains.
A Pioneering Role in Osteoarchaeology
The landmark position, held by Dr Jess Thompson, is titled Curator of Osteoarchaeology at National Museums Scotland (NMS). Based at the NMS Collection Centre in Edinburgh, her appointment marks a new chapter for the care and study of the nation's ancient dead.
Dr Thompson is now responsible for a vast collection comprising the remains of approximately 2,500 individuals. These remains span an immense timeline, from around 8,000 years ago right through to the medieval period.
"This is an exciting opportunity for the collections," Dr Thompson stated. She explained that while NMS has always held these remains, they previously lacked dedicated in-house osteological expertise for their curation and study.
Enhancing Care and Unlocking Research
The core objectives of this new curatorial role are threefold: to enhance the ethical storage and curation of the remains, to make them more accessible to researchers, and to develop internal guidance for their study and potential display.
"My job is to ensure that we are curating them to current, updated museum standards," Dr Thompson emphasised. Immediate practical work includes improving storage conditions, re-boxing, and repacking remains where necessary.
A major digital initiative is also underway. The team is updating records with the aim of making the entire archaeological human remains inventory accessible online. This move is designed to galvanise future research collaborations with external experts.
"Thousands of years of human history and population and inhabitation of Scotland is represented within our collections," she added, highlighting the collection's ongoing growth and immense historical value.
Collaborative Foundations and Personal Journey
The creation of this pioneering post was made possible by the Scotland’s Archaeological Human Remains Collections (SAHRC) initiative. This is a collaborative project led by NMS in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
Financial support comes from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, via its Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science programme.
Dr Thompson's path to this role began in childhood with a fascination for ancient Egypt. She later completed an undergraduate degree in archaeology and a PhD in osteoarchaeology, building a career on numerous research projects before landing what she calls this "extremely lucky" position at the heart of Scotland's ancient history.
