University of Kassel researches colonial hunting trophies in the Natural History Museum

University of Kassel researches colonial hunting trophies in the Natural History Museum

researchers from the University of Kassel actively deal with colonial hunting trophies. As part of the project "Between helpless, triumph and shame", they examine the background and creations of these objects that are stored in the Kassel Natural History Museum. The aim is to develop a guide for museums to improve the handling of such collections and to convey a well -founded understanding of visitors. It is particularly important to those involved in dealing with the injustice contexts that are related to these hunting trophies.

Maximilian Preuss, historian and research assistant, heads the two -year project. "We want to examine the hunting methods and the special reasons for hunting during the colonial period," explains Preuss. The focus is on the discounts of hunters and the possibly lost information from the Rabe von Pappenheim collection, which was created during colonial hunts. A serious loss for the museum was the almost complete fire in 1943, which lost a lot of information about the trophies.

networking and cooperation

The project works closely with various regional partners and decision -makers from origin companies, including institutions in Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa. This includes the archive of the German Youth Movement, the State Museum of Hanover and the Hesse Museum Association. Linda-Josephine Knop, project employee, emphasizes the connection between hunting, resource exploitation and colonial landing. These aspects illustrate the reach of the colonial practices.

The analysis of the trophies, such as antlers and skins, is to be promoted to the processing of German and European colonialism. Museum director Kai Füldner expresses hope that the project can provide important insights into the hunting methods and their ethical implications. During the discussion about the hunting trophies, Preuss also wants to promote sensitization to the current use of hunting and nature conservation, but expect less excitement than in debates on current hunting practice in Germany.

guidelines and public perception

A central aspect of the project is the creation of a guideline for museums that should help to better classify the trophies and to clarify the visitors about their origin and the associated stories. "It is important to convey that historical responsibility is associated with many of these objects," emphasizes Preuss. Despite the critical examination of the topic, Preuss does not speak of restitution, since there are currently no claims from African states.

In order to promote the public discussion about this topic, various events are planned as part of the project, including a public conference and lectures, which are intended to present the knowledge gathered in an interesting way. The first reading is already scheduled for March 13, 2025.

The Humboldt Forum has set itself a similar goal as a cultural institution and also deals with the examination of colonial history and the associated challenges. Against the background of the debate about provenance and restitution of ethnological collections, it becomes clear how important a comprehensive and honest examination of the colonial past is to sensitize future generations and make the cultural background of the exhibits transparent reports about the gained experience and challenges.