The Tanimbar Skulls are fifteen ancestral skulls that were taken in 1912 from the village of Amtoefoe, now called Lorulun, on Yamdena Island in the Tanimbar Archipelago, Maluku, Indonesia. Previously held in the collection of Museum Vrolik, they were returned to Indonesia in 2024 with the assistance of the Budaya Kita Foundation. These skulls were taken without consent and used for racial or scientific studies rooted in colonial ideologies.
The restitution illustrates a growing recognition that human remains are not mere artifacts, but deeply meaningful cultural and spiritual items. By returning the skulls to their communities, both the museum and the foundation acknowledged past injustices and supported the restoration of dignity and ancestral connections. The case exemplifies how museums can play a role in reconciling historical wrongs while fostering dialogue with source communities.