A UK auction house withdrew a controversial lot featuring a ‘Naga Human Skull’ from a live online auction on Wednesday following strong protests from India, led by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. The skull, believed to be a 19th-century relic from the Naga tribe in India’s northeastern state, was listed as part of Swan Auction Galleries’ “The Curious Collector Sale” in Oxfordshire.

The skull, labeled as Lot No. 64, sparked widespread outrage in Nagaland, where it is regarded as a deeply sacred cultural object. Chief Minister Rio condemned the proposed sale, calling it “a highly emotional and sacred issue for our people.” He requested India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, to intervene and halt the sale. “It has been a traditional custom of our people to give the highest respect and honour for the remains of the demised,” Rio wrote in his letter.

The Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) also raised concerns, asserting that the auction violated the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), specifically Article 15, which affirms the dignity and cultural rights of Indigenous communities. The FNR contacted the auction house directly, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the human remains from sale and their repatriation to Nagaland.

The item was described in the auction catalog as a “19th Century Horned Naga Human Skull, Naga Tribe,” with an estimated price range between GBP 2,100 (INR 2.30 lakh) and GBP 4,000. Its provenance was linked to 19th-century Belgian architect Francois Coppens, whose collection of cultural artefacts included the skull.

Laura Van Broekhoven, director of the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, also expressed outrage over the sale, labeling it “disrespectful and inconsiderate.” The Pitt Rivers Museum, known for housing similar artefacts, has been engaged in ongoing discussions with indigenous groups, including the FNR, about returning such culturally significant items to their rightful communities. “The fact that these objects were taken is painful, and seeing them for sale in 2024 was quite shocking,” said Broekhoven.

The Swan auction house has not yet issued an official statement regarding the withdrawal, but the move came in response to the growing calls for the return of the remains to the Naga people.