idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
At Leipzig University, progress is being made in coming to terms with the past: on 1 October 2025, the remains of three Roma were interred in Germany for the first time. These remains were collected some 150 years ago for racist research purposes. The solemn memorial service was initiated and led by Romano Sumnal, the Saxon association of Roma and Sinti, with support from the University’s Institute of Anatomy. The dignified burial took place at the Südfriedhof cemetery in Leipzig.
The Institute of Anatomy at Leipzig University holds a skull collection which originated in the late 19th century, assembled at the time by a number of natural scientists. Of the original 1,500 skulls, around 1,200 remain at the institute, the rest having been lost or destroyed during the two world wars. Many of the skulls come from colonial contexts. Furthermore, research has revealed that the collection included the remains of three Roma individuals.
“The procurement of the remains, their transfer and their exploitation – especially for ideologically driven and distorted research – cannot be dismissed as thoughtless or naïve,” said Professor Jens-Karl Eilers, speaking on behalf of the Leipzig University Rectorate. In his address, the Vice-Rector pointed to positive developments: “A particularly powerful sign that things are changing for the better is the work being carried out at the Institute of Anatomy in the Faculty of Medicine at Leipzig University.” Professor Martin Gericke, who heads provenance research at the Institute of Anatomy, added: “It is of great importance to us to return the remains to their communities of origin. Ideally, we may succeed in alleviating some of the suffering, here and now, that was inflicted long ago.”
The natural scientist Emil Schmidt (1804–1876) purchased the skulls from the Dutch physician Jan van der Hoeven (1801–1868). It is no longer possible to trace how they came into van der Hoeven’s possession. What is certain is that the remains were kept for generations in various institutes. In Emil Schmidt’s original catalogue, the three skulls are listed in a chapter under a racial slur commonly used at the time. Alongside measurements and descriptions of anatomical features, the entries state that the deceased were three adult men: the first individual is recorded as originating from Großwardein, today’s Oradea in Romania. The remains of the second man, who was about 75 years old, were stolen in 1865 from a hospital in Bucharest. As for the third individual, the only information recorded is that his remains were obtained through the desecration of a Roma grave.
With so little information available, it was impossible to conduct genealogical research. Ultimately, the researchers reached agreement with Saxony’s Roma and Sinti association to inter the remains in Leipzig. A new memorial stone now commemorates the deceased at the protected historic burial site of the Franz family of Sinti from Leipzig. “The commemoration and burial are an important part of our efforts to provide the deceased with a dignified final resting place,” stressed Professor Martin Gericke.
“This burial is a historic moment,” said Gjulner Sejdi, chair of the Romano Sumnal association. “For the first time in Germany, the remains of Roma exploited in scientific collections are being publicly laid to rest. In doing so, Leipzig is taking responsibility and shedding light on an often overlooked part of history.”
At the same time, the researchers and the association emphasise the need to continue provenance research – even though it is very labour-intensive and does not necessarily lead to results. “Only by examining the histories of origin can responsibility be assumed and historical injustice addressed,” said Gericke.
In addition to representatives of Leipzig University and Romano Sumnal, the commemorative event was also attended by the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, the Federal Government Commissioner against Antigypsyism and for the Life of Sinti and Roma, the Ambassador of Romania, as well as representatives of the City of Leipzig and the Saxon state government.
Background information:
The long-term goal of the provenance research at the Institute of Anatomy at Leipzig University is to fully dismantle the skull collection. To this end, in 2024 an extensive investigation into the South American and African skulls in the collection was launched, with the goal of enabling repatriation by identifying relevant contacts in the respective countries of origin. The project is being funded for two years by the German Lost Art Foundation. Just recently, in June 2025, the remains of 19 individuals from the collection were handed over in New Orleans.
Professor Martin Gericke
Director, Professorship Lehrstuhl II
Institute of Anatomy
Leipzig University
Phone: 49-341-97-22 055
Email: martin.gericke@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
https://www.uni-leipzig.de/en/newsdetail/artikel/zeremonielle-bestattung-von-19-...
The funeral procession with the symbolic coffins on the way to the burial site. From left to right: ...
Quelle: Swen Reichhold
Copyright: Leipzig University
Musicians from the Roma and Sinti community accompanied the commemoration and burial ceremony with p ...
Quelle: Swen Reichhold
Copyright: Leipzig University
Merkmale dieser Pressemitteilung:
Journalisten, Wissenschaftler
Gesellschaft, Kulturwissenschaften, Medizin
überregional
Forschungsergebnisse
Englisch
The funeral procession with the symbolic coffins on the way to the burial site. From left to right: ...
Quelle: Swen Reichhold
Copyright: Leipzig University
Musicians from the Roma and Sinti community accompanied the commemoration and burial ceremony with p ...
Quelle: Swen Reichhold
Copyright: Leipzig University
Sie können Suchbegriffe mit und, oder und / oder nicht verknüpfen, z. B. Philo nicht logie.
Verknüpfungen können Sie mit Klammern voneinander trennen, z. B. (Philo nicht logie) oder (Psycho und logie).
Zusammenhängende Worte werden als Wortgruppe gesucht, wenn Sie sie in Anführungsstriche setzen, z. B. „Bundesrepublik Deutschland“.
Die Erweiterte Suche können Sie auch nutzen, ohne Suchbegriffe einzugeben. Sie orientiert sich dann an den Kriterien, die Sie ausgewählt haben (z. B. nach dem Land oder dem Sachgebiet).
Haben Sie in einer Kategorie kein Kriterium ausgewählt, wird die gesamte Kategorie durchsucht (z.B. alle Sachgebiete oder alle Länder).
