Lübeck returns human remains from colonial era
Lübeck returns human remains from colonial era
The museums in Lübeck are facing a historical turning point. For the first time, they return human remains from the colonial period to their countries of origin. This is a step that not only shows responsibility for a dark chapter in history, but also promotes dialogue between cultures and nations. The Peruvian ambassador took over the remains of an indigenous toddler on Monday, which had landed in 1899 over the Berlin art trade in Lübeck. This return is part of a larger process for critical examination of the colonial past, a topic of growing importance in today's society.
According to the city of Lübeck, there are still remains of a total of 26 people in the museums' collections. These returns were long overdue because they not only represent a moral bid, but also a signal to the former colonial states that historical injustices have to be recognized and corrected. Such actions have increasingly come into focus because society wants to develop a better understanding of the effects of colonial history.
construction work and traffic restrictions
fire investigations in Scharbeutz
While the city is busy returning the remaining stocks, there are also worrying news from Scharbeutz. There was a fire in the thatched roof of a restaurant on the popular beach promenade on Tuesday night. The criminal police assume arson, which makes the situation alarming. An attentive witness who discovered the flames around one o'clock was able to prevent worse things by intervening. Together with two helpers, he tried to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher until the fire brigade arrived and could completely extinguish the fire.
The police are now asking the public for clues to clarify the incident. In times when security and protection are becoming increasingly important in public, such events are particularly alarming and require quick action.
A growing awareness of history and security
Overall, in Lübeck and the surrounding area, there is a growing awareness of responsibility towards the history and the protection of the community. The return of human remains represents a step towards reconciliation, while at the same time the current challenges in the infrastructure and the security of citizens must not be lost sight of. It is to be hoped that the city administration will be able to unite both aspects and thus to promote a positive development for the region.
historical background of the return of human remains
The return of human remains from museums to the countries of origin is part of a larger process that has become more important in recent years. This procedure is closely associated with the critical examination of the colonial past that promotes many countries, especially in Europe. Dealing with colonial objects and human remains is increasingly considered from the aspect of decolonization. Numerous institutions and museums have been calling for a return for some time to appreciate historical injustice and give the affected cultures a voice.
In addition to the museums in Lübeck, there are also other institutions in Germany that deal with this topic. The debate about the return of colonial artifacts is influenced not only by political and social currents, but also by international agreements and guidelines, such as those of the UNESCO. In 2019, an expert commission was founded that was to develop recommendations to return collection objects, which in many cases has already led to concrete returns.Current developments at the political level
The return of the human remains from Lübeck falls into a broader political context in which many European countries question their colonial stocks. A law was introduced in Germany in 2021, which again addressed and promoted the return of cultural assets to the countries of origin. In this context, the establishment of return commissions was also required, which are intended to make the entire process transparent and fairly.
In Norway, for example, the government launched similar initiatives to return museum objects from the colonial era. These international developments lay the foundation for a possible paradigm shift in dealing with colonial collections in European museums. In addition, there are numerous projects at the academic level that deal with the processing of colonial history and promote the dialogue between the countries concerned and the institutions.
returns worldwide: an overview
Land
| Jahr
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | colonial artifacts, human remains | 2024 |
| norway | objects from the colonial period | 2022 |
| united kingdom | Benin bronzen | 2022 |
| France | remains from African colonies | 2020 |
These returns not only embody compensation for historical injustices, but also an approximation to the cultures concerned and an offer for cooperation for the future. It remains to be seen how many other museums and institutions will follow this example and what effects these endeavors could have on global relationships.
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