Over the past 10 years there has been an issue of rising visibility, the status of mummies in international law. Are they cultural artifacts, human remains or religious symbols in the eyes of the law? I believe that they are cultural artifacts and there is a precedent to support this, but that does not mean that a standing law is a good one. There are arguments for mummies to be treated as religious symbols, or as human remains and there are laws and precedents for those situations. I believe that while these newly emphasized views of mummies may for a time cause larger isses for the historical community for a time I believe that they will soon be reaffirmed as historical artifacts, though there is likely to be restrictions to the tests allowed on mummies that are held in temples and churches.
