Ethical Issues of Bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia

Siân E. Halcrow (Corresponding Author), Rebecca Crozier, Kate M. Domett, Thanik Lertcharnrit, Jennifer Newton, Louise Shewan, Stacey Ward

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Since the 1990s there has been an increase in bioarchaeological research in many parts of Southeast Asia by both locals and non-locals. Southeast Asian countries are characterised by varied social, cultural, and political histories, but there are also some broad similarities in terms of poor economic development that limits much local research, and strong nationalism and rigid bureaucratic procedures for research. All have implications for non-local and local bioarchaeological research. Despite the growth in bioarchaeological research, the ethics of the practice of bioarchaeology in this region remain relatively underexplored. This chapter presents some of the main ethical issues of research with human remains in the region focusing on the countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines, from a non-local and local researcher viewpoint. We review a range of ethical issues, including the varied way different cultures respond to bioarchaeological work, local-non-local partnership in research, community archaeology, bioarchaeological methods including post-excavation management, and looting of archaeological sites. With the recent development of local expertise in bioarchaeology in the region, the repatriation of skeletal samples to Thailand, the increase in local training , and partnerships between local and non-local bioarchaeologists, there is much promise for the further development of local research in the field.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEthical Approaches to Human Remains: a global challenge in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology
EditorsKirsty Squires, David Errikson, Nicholas Márquez-Grant
PublisherSpringer
Pages465-484
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-32926-6
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-32925-9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

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