Upcoming guest lecture "Les contextes diverses des restes humains - exploration d'une ontologie floue" (University of Geneva/hybrid)

Between 22 September and 17 October 2025, I will be staying at the Art-Law Centre of the University of Geneva (CH) as the 2024 Lalive Merryman Fellow. During my research stay, I will be working on the legal classification of human remains, and the extent to which hominin fossils (e.g., from the Neanderthals or Homo erectus) can be considered as such. In this context, I have been asked to contribute a guest lecture to the Advanced Research Seminar in Archaeology at the University of Geneva. Taught by Dr Claudine Abegg, this year’s seminar is titled “Les restes humains en archéologie et anthropologie: Gestions logistiques, scientifiques, éthiques et légales” and seeks to sensitise master’s students to the broad range of different issues (logistical, scientific, ethical, legal) that concern the handling of human remains. You can download the flyer for the seminar here.

As far as my lecture is concerned, here’s all you need to know:

• What: Lecture (in French) with Q&A, titled “Les contextes diverses des restes humains : exploration d’une ontologie floue”
• When: 29 September 2025, 15:15 - 17:00
• Where: University of Geneva and online (mandatory registration)
• Abstract:

• English
• Français

• There are certain ideas of what we deem acceptable when treating human remains, and certain limitations which the law imposes. Theses ideas and limitations are contingent upon what human remains are at an ontological level—and that is anything but certain, or immutable. This lecture explores the contexts, the boxes in which we might put human remains, how they move from one context to another, and what implications that brings for their treatment.

• Il y a certaines idées de ce que nous considérons comme acceptable concernant la gestion des restes humains, et certaines limitations que le droit impose. Ces idées et limitations dépendent de ce que sont les restes humains à un niveau ontologique - ce qui est tout sauf certain ou immuable. Cette conférence explore les contextes dans lesquelles nous pourrions placer les restes humains, comment ils passent d’un contexte à un autre, et quelles implications cela entraîne pour leur gestion.