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I was very interested to read on various news websites today that a special ceremony has taken place in Scotland as part of the repatriation of aboriginal human remains. As I've probably mentioned before I hope to write a book set in Australia with a theme based around Aborigine dreamtime myths. A lot of museums have been debating both the sensitivity of displaying human remains and the returning of exhibits. National Museums Scotland held six skulls while Edinburgh Museum held an ear bone. As Dr Midas works in a museum this suggests a reason for his visiting the country, and from there I could work a plot involving a trip into the past. On Monday four members of the Ngarrindjeri in traditional dress took part in a 'smoking ceremony' where they burned eucalyptus leaves to cleanse the remains for their journey. National Museums of Scotland's website explains: "The six remains were given to National Museums Scotland in the 19th century by collectors, but as the museum collecting climate was different at that time, there is little information on the remains apart from the country they came from. "The remains will initially be returned to the National Museum of Australia, but in light of the limited information on them, the Australian Government intends to work with the National Museum of Australia and the indigenous communities to carry out further research to determine the origin of the remains." National Museums Scotland has also agreed to repatriate a Tasmanian skull to the Australian Government. They will also return four Maori skulls and two mandibles to the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa and four tattooed Maori heads already on long-term loan there. Dr John Scally, Directo, University of Edinburgh Collections, said: "We are very happy that through returning these remains we are able to build a new relationship with the indigenous people of Australia."