Scientific and Ethical Aspects of Identified Skeletal Series: The Case of the Documented Human Osteological Collections of the University of Bologna (Northern Italy)

Abstract

Osteological collections are an essential source of information on human biological and cultural variability, providing insights about developmental, evolutionary, and biocultural processes. Among osteological series, documented human osteological collections (DHOC) are especially useful due to the opportunity to control biological parameters such as age-at-death and sex, which are typically unknown in archaeological or forensic cases. Raising ethical concerns about the collection, management, and study of human remains poses anthropologists with renewed responsibilities. These issues become especially pressing when dealing with DHOC. In this contribution, we discuss the scientific value and ethical issues characterizing DHOC using as case study the documented human osteological collections of the University of Bologna. This series includes more than 1000 individuals from Northern Italian and Sardinian cemeteries and is among the largest in Europe. It represents the basis for ongoing research on a large range of methodological studies, especially focused on the reconstruction of biological profile. After outlining the scientific studies performed on this DHOC, we discuss it in the context of the specific legislation featuring the Italian territory. Finally, we highlight some directions where work can be carried out to better balance scientific research, preservation needs, and ethical concerns, stressing the advantages of modern imaging techniques.

Exploring the role of fibular extremities as indicators of mobility patterns and locomotor behavior in Homo sapiens from Mid- Late Upper Paleolithic to the modern age

“…The Sardinia (SAR) and Emilia-Romagna (ER) sample is part of the Modern Identi ed Frassetto Collection housed at the University of Bologna. This osteological collection was assembled by Prof. Fabio Frassetto (Belcastro et al 2017(Belcastro et al , 2022 and includes individuals from Bologna, Parma, Sassari, Cagliari, and Nuoro, located in Emilia-Romagna and Sardinia (Italy). These sedentary populations include males and females who died during the rst two decades of the 20th century (1918)(1919)(1920)(1921)(1922)(1923)(1924)(1925)(1926)(1927)(1928)(1929)(1930)(1931)(1932) and inhabited the urban area of these cities and their immediate rural surroundings.…”

Topical Collection “The Rise of Forensic Anthropology and Documented Human Osteological Collections”

“…For example, Belcastro et al [9] remarked on the scientific value of the eight DHOCs curated at the University of Bologna in Italy assembled in the mid-19th and early 20th century [9]; and L'Abbé et al [10] described the Pretoria Bone Collection with unclaimed individuals in South Africa linked to the opening of a medical school at the University of Pretoria in 1942 and their efforts to digitalize the collection [10]. Similarly, Plens et al [11] emphasized the growth of collections in South America linked to research and forensic anthropology [9][10][11]. Much research undertaken with DHOCs aims to assess sex and age-at-death, as these are major parameters in biological profiling.…”

“…Ethical considerations were associated mainly with a country's legislation, colonialism, forensic and medical practices, funerary rituals, and stance towards the dead. For example, Belcastro et al [9] referred to the ethical issues of the Modena "Criminals" and Dart collections reflecting social and ethnic inequalities and the Sassari Collection's potential ties with living descendants in Italy. In Campanacho et al [8], ethical concerns revolved around the anatomical collections composed of impoverished and African American individuals without family consent, with calls for the repatriation of the latter.…”

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“…Due to ethical concerns, the traditional way of anthropological research on human osteological collections is more and more under scrutiny [ 27 – 29 ]. These osteological collections represent cultural and historical documentation that should be preserved [ 30 , 31 ].…”