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Vermillion Accord on Human Remains (1989) (Indigenous Archaeology)

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Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology

Introduction

The Vermillion Accord is a set of six clauses adopted by the World Archaeological Congress (WAC) which concerns science and the treatment of the dead. It is of high significance to the archaeological profession and Indigenous groups, and its development and adoption is a key moment in the history of the reburial movement. Created in 1989, and adopted by WAC in 1990, the Vermillion Accord was the first document developed togetherby archaeologists and Indigenous people to provide a set of principles for behavior, decision making, and mutually agreed ethical approaches to the question of archaeological (and other scientific) interest in the mortal remains of the dead. At a time of high concern around issues raised by the reburial movement, when tensions could run exceptionally high and the media represented the debate as intractably polarized, the Vermillion Accord stands out as a demonstration that “mutual understanding and respect were possible between Indigenous people...

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Correspondence to Cressida Fforde .

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Fforde, C. (2014). Vermillion Accord on Human Remains (1989) (Indigenous Archaeology). In: Smith, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2_23

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