Provenance research on human remains from German colonies in the Jena Anatomical Collection

In this project, we are investigating human remains of at least twelve individuals and their (presumed) origin in Africa or Papua New Guinea. The human remains comprise two skeletons of people who were possibly taken to Europe as so-called “chambered ears”, as well as at least two skulls from the colony of German Southwest Africa. In addition, eight so-called “ancestor skulls” from the Sepik region will be examined. It is suspected that these remains were donated by the physician Werner Eilers and the zoologist and explorer Leonhard Schultze-Jena. For both, access to human remains has been documented in the context of the genocide of the Herero and Nama in present-day Namibia for the years 1904-1908. Moreover, Schultze-Jena took a research trip to New Guinea in 1910/11. Based on extant collection catalogues, we will carry out extensive archival research to uncover the origin and biographies of the individuals. At the same time, the project aims to gain in-depth knowledge about the relevant collection networks of Eilers and Schultze-Jena. The results of the project will provide a basis for deciding on the future handling of the human remains and, if warranted, their repatriation.

(c) Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Anatomische Sammlung (Institut für Anatomie).