This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-24570218

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Birmingham University Maori head returns to New Zealand Birmingham Maori head returned to New Zealand
(about 5 hours later)
A tattooed Maori preserved head and skeletal remains are being returned from Birmingham to New Zealand.A tattooed Maori preserved head and skeletal remains are being returned from Birmingham to New Zealand.
The ancestral items were discovered in the anatomy department at the University of Birmingham.The ancestral items were discovered in the anatomy department at the University of Birmingham.
Staff contacted the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa about the remains, which had been in storage.Staff contacted the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa about the remains, which had been in storage.
A Maori funeral ceremony will be held at the university and the remains will be given to delegates for their return to Wellington. A traditional funeral ceremony was held at the university and the remains were given to Maori delegates for their return to Wellington.
University staff said the toi moko (preserved head) and koiwi tangata (skeletal remains) had not been used or displayed and their presence at the university was a mystery.University staff said the toi moko (preserved head) and koiwi tangata (skeletal remains) had not been used or displayed and their presence at the university was a mystery.
'Treat with dignity'
Dr June Jones, from the university's College of Medical and Dental Sciences, said: "We have no records about how these items came to be in storage at the university, but when they were uncovered we knew we had to give them back.Dr June Jones, from the university's College of Medical and Dental Sciences, said: "We have no records about how these items came to be in storage at the university, but when they were uncovered we knew we had to give them back.
"We believe that to keep them would be wrong."We believe that to keep them would be wrong.
"They belong back with their own people, to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.""They belong back with their own people, to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve."
She said the paperwork that accompanied the items was believed to have gone missing during renovations at the medical building over the last century.
The handover was arranged as part of the museum's repatriation programme, which has managed the return of more than 100 items since 2003.The handover was arranged as part of the museum's repatriation programme, which has managed the return of more than 100 items since 2003.
In total, eight toi moko and five koiwi tangata will be collected from institutions in the UK and Ireland this month.In total, eight toi moko and five koiwi tangata will be collected from institutions in the UK and Ireland this month.
After they have arrived in Wellington to a ceremonial welcome, researchers will try to ascertain their place of origin so they can be returned.After they have arrived in Wellington to a ceremonial welcome, researchers will try to ascertain their place of origin so they can be returned.
In the meantime the museum will care for the remains, which will be kept from public display. In the meantime, the museum will care for the remains, which will be kept from public display.