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Oxford University Museum To Finally Return 39 Colonial-Era Ancestral Remains To Naga Community

Oxford University Museum

Cover Image Courtesy: Pitt Rivers Museum, Wikipedia/Rhododendrites

The Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford, UK, has decided to return 39 colonial-era ancestral human remains to the indigenous Naga people of Northeast India. The remains were taken from the region in the early 20th century by British colonial administrators. Here’s what we know about this development so far.

Oxford Museum To Return 39 Naga Ancestral Remains

The Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford in the UK holds the world’s largest collection of Naga artefacts. According to Firstpost, it has decided to return the human remains of 39 people taken during the British colonial era to the Naga community in Northeast India. Reportedly, the groups had asked for the return of 40 sets of human remains, and Oxford approved the return of 39. According to them, they could not conclusively establish that one set belonged to the Naga community.

These ancestral remains were taken from the region during the early 20th century by British colonial administrators and military officers. The Pitt Rivers Museum also houses around 200 other Naga ancestral remains, and some of them were even displayed publicly until 2020.

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An Important Step For The Naga Community In India

According to Firstpost, the decision is being seen as an important step to restore the legacy and dignity of the Naga community. Repatriation for the Nagas is not just about ancestral remains but also about memory returning to where it belongs.

Reportedly, the move follows years of research and campaigning by Naga community groups. The process gathered a lot of attention and momentum after a delegation of Naga tribal elders, scholars and church leaders visited Oxford in 2025 to see the remains themselves.

Naga organisations are now working with officials in Nagaland to prepare for the remains to be given a dignified burial after they finally return to India. A date for the formal handover ceremony in Oxford is expected to be announced soon.

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What are your thoughts on this?

Cover Image Courtesy: Pitt Rivers Museum, Wikipedia/Rhododendrites

FAQs

Where is Oxford University?

Oxford University is located in Oxford, England, UK.

Which museum is holding Naga remains in the UK?

The Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford holds the Naga remains.

Where is Nagaland?

Ashmeet Guliani: Ashmeet Guliani is a Content Writer at Curly Tales with over three years of experience writing about food, travel, fashion, and lifestyle. With a B.Sc in Home Economics from the University of Delhi, her interest in reading and writing led her to pursue a career in writing. In her free time, she explores cafes, browses bookstores, listens to Hindi retro songs, and watches K-dramas!