Naga ancestral remains held at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford are set to return to Nagaland after the University of Oxford approved the repatriation of 39 human remains linked to the Naga people. The decision marks a major step in a long-running effort to bring ancestors taken during the colonial period back to their homeland. The handover date is now being finalised, with a Naga delegation expected to accompany the remains home.
Oxford clears return of 39 Naga ancestral remains
The University of Oxford Council approved the return of 39 Naga ancestral human remains at its meeting on July 13, 2026. The decision followed a formal claim submitted by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) in February seeking the return of 40 remains held at the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Oxford approved 39 of the 40 remains. One additional remain was excluded because the university said there was not enough clear evidence to establish its Naga provenance. The museum is now working with Naga representatives to organise a formal handover ceremony in Oxford.
The development was welcomed by Naga organisations as an important moment in a process that began several years ago. The return is expected to address longstanding concerns over the removal and treatment of ancestral remains during the colonial era.
Colonial history behind the collection
The Pitt Rivers Museum holds the world’s largest collection of Naga material. According to the museum, many objects and remains entered its collection through the activities of British colonial administrators and anthropologists during the early 20th century.
The first Naga ancestral remains were given to the museum more than a century ago by John Henry Hutton, a colonial administrator and anthropologist. Most of the remains were brought to Oxford by Hutton and James Philip Mills between approximately 1910 and 1940.
The museum has acknowledged that the history of these collections is closely connected with colonial violence. Its records note that some remains and objects were taken during punitive military expeditions rather than being freely given.
The ancestral remains were displayed at the museum until 2020, when the Pitt Rivers Museum removed all human remains from public display. That move helped create the conditions for deeper discussions with Naga representatives over repatriation and the appropriate care of the ancestors.
A process led by Naga communities
The repatriation process has involved the FNR, its Recover, Restore and Decolonise (RRaD) team, tribal Hohos, elders, churches and communities across the Naga homeland.
The museum said this Naga-led process of dialogue, research and consultation began in 2020. In 2025, a Naga delegation of tribal elders, leaders and representatives travelled to Oxford to advance discussions on the return of the remains.
The process has focused not only on the physical return of the remains but also on questions of dignity, healing, memory and the wider impact of colonial collecting practices.
Naga ancestral remains to return to homeland
The Pitt Rivers Museum is working with Naga representatives to finalise the date for the handover. A delegation from Nagaland is expected to travel to Oxford for the ceremony and accompany the remains on their journey home. The remains are expected to arrive in Dimapur before being taken to a planned joint memorial resting place.
The Naga community has proposed a shared resting place intended to serve as a symbol of healing, peace and unity. The Naga-Oxford Declaration also frames the repatriation as part of a broader effort to restore dignity and address the legacy of colonialism.
Forum for Naga Reconciliation convener Rev. Dr Wati Aier has described the return as a process of restoring dignity, memory and wholeness to the Naga people. The initiative has also been presented as part of a wider global movement among Indigenous communities seeking the return of ancestors and cultural heritage from museums.
A significant step in cultural restoration
The Oxford decision comes after years of engagement between the university museum and Naga representatives. It also reflects a growing international discussion about the responsibilities of museums holding human remains and collections acquired during periods of colonial rule.
For Nagaland and Naga communities, the return carries significance beyond the physical remains themselves. It represents the recovery of ancestral memory and an opportunity to provide the remains with a culturally appropriate and dignified final resting place.
With the handover arrangements still being finalised, the planned return of the 39 ancestors is expected to become an important moment for Naga communities. After decades away from their homeland, their homecoming will mark a major chapter in the ongoing process of reconciliation, cultural restoration and decolonisation.
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