Manchester museum removes mummy from display after two centuries
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The Manchester Museum in England took the mummified body of Asru, an ancient Egyptian woman, out of public display earlier this month.
Curators made the decision to respect what they believe were Asru’s wishes, based on the understanding that elite Egyptians of her time expected their bodies to remain wrapped and unseen by the living. Asru’s remains were first put on display in Manchester in 1825, after being removed from her coffin and layers of linen carefully peeled away.
William and Robert Garnett, Manchester traders, acquired Asru’s remains and coffins from a dig site near modern Luxor, Egypt, the location of the ancient city of Thebes, in the early 1800s. They then donated the remains to the Manchester Natural History Society. The museum consulted with Egyptian colleagues, members of the Egyptian diaspora, and visitors before deciding to remove Asru from the Egypt and Sudan Gallery. The museum’s decision reflects a growing ethical debate about displaying human remains.
A 2025 report from British parliamentarians called for an end to the public display of Egyptian mummies, arguing it disrespects ancestors and reflects colonial exploitation. The museum is now considering whether to keep Asru’s coffin and body in storage or return them to Egypt.
