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.
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