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Empty display case as a symbol: The skulls from the foundation's collection are no longer shown
Photo: Robert Niemz / dpa
The Friedenstein Castle Foundation in Gotha wants to return human skulls from Indonesia that are in their collection.
Tobias Pfeifer-Helkenach, director of the foundation, announced at the end of a research project on the provenance and history of the collection of Indonesian skulls in Gotha that an international working group should be set up for the repatriation, which would take all the next steps in coordination with Indonesia.
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An international team of scientists had spent the past 18 months investigating the provenance of human skulls added to the ducal collection during the colonial era.
33 Skulls in Gotha
The ethnologist and head of the research team, Adrian Lindner, said that some of the people from whom the 33 skulls still in Gotha came were able to have their identity returned.
The majority of the skulls came from young men, many of whom were captured freedom fighters.
Foundation Director Pfeifer-Helke made it clear that returning the skulls alone was not possible.
An explicit demand or request from Indonesia is necessary for this.
The local interest in the return of the skulls has so far been rather reserved.
ptz/dpa
