Desafíos éticos asociados al estudio y tratamiento de restos humanos en las ciencias antropológicas en el siglo XXI

Biological and forensic anthropologists have become increasingly aware of the ethical issues associated with research and teaching that make use of human remains. The process of exhumation, the analysis and the storage of remains have been the focus of regular attention from professionals and the media. Furthermore, due to the emergence of new technologies and methodologies, a number of additional issues have emerged over the past two decades. The aim of this article is to highlight the contemporary ethical challenges that the anthropological sciences and those involved in the study and treatment of human remains around the world are confronted with. Throughout this article, the characteristics of identified skeletal collections, the creation of human taphonomy facilities, the increase in destructive sampling (for biomolecular and histological analysis) and the use of digital imaging are explored, as well as the trade of human remains. Ethical concerns associated with each of these challenges are examined from a global perspective and within the Argentine local context. These issues are summarized taking recent history and contemporary research into account. Finally, on the basis of the topics raised throughout this article, a list of detailed recommendations is provided with the aim of improving ethical awareness and practice in anthropological science.