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I'm new to this list and, apart from a convent background, fairly new to this area. My research at the moment is focused on some aspects of the institutional use of the human body, and I have previously examined collections of aboriginal human skeletal and soft tissue remains in South African and European museums. The issue of human remains in museums is highly politicised, particularly in ex- colonial countries. I am trying to make some connections between the role of these remains in museums today and the role of relics in the late medieval church. I am also trying to understand whether there was any overt connection made or written about between the ceremony of the eucharist and the presence of relics in a church or monestry. Perhaps someone may be able to suggest some texts for this. Eventually I hope I will understand something of the mind- set of those who later left Europe to discover the New World and colonise New World bodies. One other request. I am soon to visit Lascaux and other sites in southern France and the Pyranees. I will go through Lourdes. I was wondering if, while I was in those areas, there are any significant sites for relics, or catacombs in the the area that I could visit while there. Many thanks, Pippa Skotnes University of Cape Town. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%