University of Göttingen returns bones from collection to Hawaii

Status: 02/10/2022 8:30 p.m

The University of Göttingen has returned 13 bones from its collection to the US state of Hawaii.

As the university announced on Thursday, representatives of the “Office of Hawaiian Affairs” received the human remains on Wednesday. Georg Thilenius, physician, ethnologist and later head of the Hamburg Museum of Ethnology, illegally dug them up on the island of Maui in 1897. The bones reached the University of Göttingen via various intermediate stations in the mid-20th century. Scientists from the “Sensible Provenances” research project identified the 13 bones and located family members. “With the return, we express our deep connection and respect for Hawaiian culture,” said University President Metin Tolan.

Further visits to Bremen, Jena, Berlin and Vienna

Göttingen was not the only Germany station of the delegation from Hawaii. On Tuesday, the delegation received eight skulls in Bremen. During visits to Jena, Berlin and the Austrian capital Vienna, more bones are to be returned and thus find their way back to their original burial sites in Hawaii.

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