A Northern Ireland auction house has been criticized over the sale of an ancient mummy’s head.

The auction house lists Egyptian heads dating back to 750 and 800 BC. What was in between was radiocarbon, which he said came from a private collection.

The head is said to have been brought to England by a British soldier during the First World War and remained in the family’s possession for a century.

The Indonesian head was carbonized between 800 BC and 750 BC.

Lowry added that he believed there were thousands of such relics “in attics” around the UK, with “all sorts of people” choosing to display them in their homes as well.

He added that people were “excited” by their beauty and “wondered who that person was”.

Beers, who co-chairs a task force looking at how human remains are sold online, said there has been an increase in sales “since the beginning of social media,” but especially in the last five years.

The ethical issues stem from the way fossils have been found throughout history, she said.

“Murder, kidnapping, selling because they’re poor and have no other way to feed their families. A rich man comes and says: ‘Okay, I’ll buy that head or that body from you and take it to London and sell it at auction,'” she said.

Beers added that collectors have many uses for the remains, from ritualistic to some repurposing, such as lamps and earrings.

“All these horrors we have found evidence that a handbag case with a baby spine can sell for over €6,000 (£5,174).”