Fetal-Infant Research: Privileges, Problems and Ethics
Though it is anthropologically, archaeologically, and clinically important to investigate the early life course, as researchers in this field we must never forget the importance of ensuring this work is conducted in an ethical, appropriate, and sensitive way.
The discourse of infant morbidity and mortality is particularly emotive and regardless of whether we are working with archaeological, historical, or medical collections, the privilege of being able to investigate these individuals should always be acknowledged. Within bioarchaeology, discussions around the ethical excavation, curation, and analyses of human remains are ongoing and multifaceted. Furthermore, the nature of analyses (whether they are destructive or passive), and the ownership of data and human remains, are leading to ongoing discussions over the power dynamics of who constructs narratives of the past.
Subsequently, all investigations of fetal-infant individuals should be conscientious of individual experiences, emotions, and agency, critical of both the methods and contexts of future investigations. Furthermore, it is imperative that as researchers, scientists, and humans we never forget our own privilege in having the opportunity to conduct such investigations into these brief but important lives.
(Excerpt from Hodson 2021; New Prospects for Investigating Early Life-Course Experiences and Health in Archaeological Fetal, Perinatal and Infant Individuals, Childhood in the Past, 14:1, 3-12, DOI: 10.1080/17585716.2021.1905884)
Project-Specific Considerations:
This project will require me to handle and analyse archaeological and historical skeletal remains of fetal and infant individuals. Consequently, all relevant Reading University, BABAO (British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology), and CIfA (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists) guidelines pertaining to ethics and good practice will be followed, and the utmost respect for the human remains will always be given. (See Ethics and Standards – BABAO for further details and guidelines).
Furthermore, I made the conscious decision to ensure that the investigations and analyses proposed are non-destructive, though one method does require the dentition to be cleaned.
All research will be subject to permissions being granted for analyses to be conducted by the holding institutions (museums/organisations/universities curating the skeletal material). Finally, all human remains will be returned to the supplying museums/institutions within the time frame granted.
Use of Images
Please note that this project and website will use images of human remains, but only those pertaining specifically to the project and in a scholarly context.