At the invitation of Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in Leiden, the Indonesian Repatriasi Commission paid a visit to the institute. The Dutch Colonial Collections Committee, which assesses restitution requests from Indonesia, also took part in the discussion.
The discussion focused on the Indonesian government’s request for the restitution of the Dubois collection. Indonesia requests the transfer of three Homo erectus fossils, which played a very important role in the acceptance of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The fossils were found on Java in 1891-1892 under the supervision of the Dutch researcher Eugène Dubois. This find brought Dubois world fame, and the fossils are regarded worldwide as absolute museum highlights.
The Repatriasi Commission has indicated that for Indonesia the request essentially concerns the return of the three type objects of Homo erectus, the skullcap, the femur and the molar.
There is mutual understanding and recognition of the great importance of these three objects and the wish has been expressed to explore together how their value for Indonesia, the Netherlands and the rest of the world can best be safeguarded.
Naturalis emphasized in the conversation that it fully understands the Indonesian government’s request for the return of these three objects. It is evident that, in addition to scientific value, these objects also have enormous cultural and historical significance.
Both the Repatriasi Commission and Naturalis have expressed the wish to intensify cooperation between Naturalis and Indonesia, both in the field of research and in the field of museum presentation.
According to the Dutch daily Trouw, Indonesia has temporarily dropped a claim to 40,000 fossils in the Naturalis museum. The return of the Java Man is a priority.
It is possible that Indonesia will claim the other fossils at a later stage, says the Dutch advisory committee.
