French Museum Tries to Return Maori Head

This photo provided Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007 by the Rouen townhall, Normandy, shows a drawing of a tattooed Maori head from New Zealand. The Normandy museum offered to return the preserved, tattooed Maori head to New Zealand, trying to restore dignity to indigenous remains that were once put on display as exotic curiosities. Instead, authorities in the Normandy city of Rouen got a scolding from the culture minister for not checking with national authorities first. And a Rouen administrative court ruled Wednesday that, pending a final decision, the Maori head must remain in France for now. (AP Photo/Rouen Town hall)

(AP) -- The Normandy museum only wanted to do what was right: It offered to return a preserved, tattooed Maori head to New Zealand, an attempt to restore dignity to human remains that were long put on display as an exotic curiosity.