Repatriation of cultural artefacts to Indonesia's Warloka community facilitated by UofG
Published: 16 July 2025
A major repatriation effort that returned cultural artefacts to Indonesia's Warloka community was facilitated by the University of Glasgow.
A major repatriation effort that saw the formal return of a collection of cultural artefacts to the Warloka community in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, was facilitated by the University of Glasgow.
The items, weighing approximately 40 kilograms and categorized into 15 types, including jewelry, tools, ceramics, pottery, coins, and the skeletal remains of three ancestors, were initially excavated 15 years ago and have since been stored at Indonesia’s Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) for research purposes.
They were returned to the community in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, during a ceremony on 14 July.
The repatriation effort was the result of an international collaboration between UGM’s Dr Tular Sudarmadi (Department of Archaeology) and Dr Ristiawan Rucitarahma (Department of Tourism Studies) and the University of Glasgow’s Dr Emiline Smith, with support from UGM postgraduate archaeology student Oto Alcianto.
UofG’s Lecturer in Criminology Dr Emiline Smith said: "This repatriation marks a symbolic shift, urging academics to reflect on ethical responsibilities, especially fair knowledge and benefit sharing with communities.
"It also underscores the need for stronger governmental support to help institutions manage the respectful retention and return of ancestral remains and heritage."
Dr Tular Sudarmadi emphasized that cultural heritage must not be managed through exploitative approaches rooted in colonial practices. As academics, he asserted, it is crucial to foster equitable relationships with the communities being studied.
The ancestral remains were reburied in accordance with the customs and beliefs of the Warloka community. Meanwhile, the cultural artefacts are temporarily housed at the local Tourism Office while a dedicated exhibition space is being developed in Warloka.
The Tourism Office and community members are also using the occasion to educate visitors about local history and the importance of collaborative research in preserving cultural heritage. The community has pledged to enhance the protection of archaeological discoveries in the area.
"Our family members have finally come home after 15 years," said one Warloka resident, visibly moved.
As a result of this project, UGM is currently drafting university-wide guidelines for the management of excavated archaeological materials, marking the first such initiative in Indonesia.
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First published: 16 July 2025