The value of human remains for research and education

Preserved human remains provide valuable and in some instances unique opportunities to study individuals from prehistoric and historic periods. Skeletal remains provide a rich and valuable source of information about past peoples. Mummified remains provide the biological anthropologist with even deeper detail through investigations of soft tissue anatomy, parasitology, infectious or toxic afflictions, and interpretation of congenital or malignant pathological conditions. With advancements in sophisticated analytical technologies such as mtDNA, nuclear DNA, various isotopic and elemental analyses, scanning electron microscopy and computerized tomography, new research capabilities appear limitless. Therefore, the preservation of both skeletal and mummified collections of human remains, combined with better efforts to disseminate the information retrieved, has become imperative.