Maori Warrior's Mummified Head

French tug-of-war over Maori warrior's head

A French court has reportedly vetoed efforts to return a mummified head of an indigenous Maori warrior to New Zealand's national museum.

The head is reportedly in the possession of a museum in the western city of Rouen, the mayor of which has decided to return the artifact to New Zealand. The head was given by a French collector to the museum in 1875.

The mummified tattoted head has been part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Natural History at Rouen in Normandy.

When Rouen's mayor arranged recently to return it to New Zealand as an act of "atonement" for colonial-era trafficking in human remains, the French court did not allow the return after the government argued it was a part of French heritage.

The Maori Party in New Zealand is also seeking action to recover the mummified Maori head.

The Maoris traditionaly preserved the tattooed heads of warriors killed in battle to keep
their memory alive. During the 19th century, the preserved heads of warriors with facial tattoos were popular with European collectors, as contact with the outsiders increased. The trade was later outlawed.

The municipal council of the French city of Rouen said it was hopeful that the preserved
Maori head can be returned soon to New Zealand, despite a legal ruling blocking the move.


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French museum tries to return Maori head