USoM platform. Proposal for an international and transdisciplinary interactive tool for centralization and anthropological exchange around human remains
Background. — In a previous article related to ethical reflection around the study of human remains and their biological products in archaeological, ethnographic and museum contexts, a general scientific isolation - going against the common interest and leading to certain forms of misconduct - had been raised. It appeared a real need to act in the direction of transparency and a transdisciplinary union.
Methodology. — This conclusion led to further reflection on the strengths and technical creationof a tool dedicated to the exchange between sciences relating to the study of man.
Results/Discussion. — We propose the creation of a platform dedicated to all international sci-entific actors whose issues are related to research on humans. This involves proposing thedevelopment of a participatory/collaborative virtual platform on which scientific organiza-tions would exchange their study materials, their samples, their tools, their knowledge, theirreflections and hypotheses and then the resulting data in order to no longer work in isolation.
Conclusion/Perspectives. — This multidisciplinary vision to the study of Man, without spatialor chronological boundaries, will be a contribution to each of the disciplines involved and thebenefits of this platform are multiple. However, this coalition approach exposes academic,technical and legal difficulties and represents a real challenge because it requires profoundchanges.
Bio-banque : appliquer le modèle médical à l’anthropologie. Constat et réflexion autour des interventions sur les vestiges humains archéologiques et ethnographiques
Résumé Les préoccupations scientifiques autour des interventions sur les restes humains en contexte archéologique et ethnographique sont de plus en plus présentes. Il apparaît un réel désir international de statuer et de réfléchir à une transparence et une coalition des états
et organismes de recherche dans l’intérêt de ces êtres, de leurs produits biologiques et des populations associées. Les nouvelles technologies, les outils interactifs puis les textes existants offrent une possibilité de réflexion, de réponse dans la manière de gérer, stocker et traiter ces ressources pour lutter contre l’isolement et les inconduites scientifiques face à ces vestiges devenus de simples objets tout en respectant leur caractère humain, leur nature archéologique et ethnographique puis leur potentiel scientifique pluridisciplinaire.
Advocacy for the preservation of osteological heritage in the context of biomedical universities
Introduction. — An anonymous donation of bone elements to the Laboratory of Anthropology, Archeology, Biology (LAAB) (UVSQ/Paris-Saclay) once again raises the question of the future of heritage and university osteological collections. It allows to alert about the fragility of osteological collections and the risk of their disappearance.
Context. — The treatment, conservation and future of human remains are currently at the heart of intense debates among heritage and archeology professionals as well as within the legislative apparatus in France. French law concerning the conservation and valorization of ancient human remains vague, which encourages heterogeneous decision-making on the territory regarding their management. Heritage osteological collections and unofficial collections are threatened whether by the need of selecting sorting, by request of reburial, or by disinterest. Digital tech- nologies currently offer solutions in particular for the preservation of archaeological remains by protecting them from repeated and sometimes unnecessary manipulations. But these solu- tions are not without ethical and financial questions, and do not exempt the need to preserve anthropobiological remains for subsequent complementary or contradictory studies. Conclusion. — In fact, the preservation, in their integrity, of serial anthropobiological collec- tions and particularly osteological collections, remains essential for teaching and research.