Science Trumps Ritual in Mystery Skeleton Row [Kennewick Man]

Reuters--UK ^ | Thu 5 February, 2004 | Adam Tanner

[syriacus]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Denying a request by American Indian tribes who sought an immediate burial, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday that scientists should be allowed to continue testing on a 9,000-year-old skeleton.

"It's terrific," said Robson Bonnichsen director of Texas A&M University's Center for the Study of the First Americans and a plaintiff in the case. "The court has upheld the principle for scientific study of very early human remains."

The legal battle pitting Bonnichsen and seven other scientists against the U.S. government and Indian tribes dates back to 1996, after two teenagers discovered a skeleton near the shore of the Columbia River near Kennewick, Washington.

Scientists dated the "Kennewick Man" remains as 8,340 to 9,200 years old, yet it was a puzzling find because its features differed from those of American Indians. Scientists hoped further study would shed light on early North Americans.

[syriacus]

From the article:

Without a clear link between the skeleton and Native Americans, the court gave a green light to science.

[NativeSon]

"The court has upheld the principle for scientific study of very early human remains."

Surprise

One more added to the list of "done for the greater good" . But who's greater good?

[ClearCase_guy]

Is Kennewick Man curently above ground? Wasn't there an "inconvenient" skeleton that was buried very, very thoroughly during the Clinton Administration?

The Left seems to like some science, but be afraid of what science will uncover in other cases. Perhaps they have an agenda.

[steplock]

THe "mongolian" indians do NOT want any proof that maybe it is a "caucasian" that was here first?

Didn't Joseph Smith (Mormons) profess that?

[Sacajaweau]

A few more scientists live to collect a very big paycheck and get published.

My personal feeling is that the bones should be buried in a proper nearby cemetery and "rest in peace".

Intrusion on this skeleton may tell us something but it will be nothing useful and much will be hypothetical jibberish.

The man died 9000 years ago. No one can "claim" him except the earth.

[sticker]

The left has an agenda???? I am shocked and saddened deeply saddened.

[sticker]

"The man died 9000 years ago. No one can "claim" him except the earth."

Yes there is his wife, Helen Thomas

[syriacus]

Yes there is his wife, Helen Thomas

LOL. (Though I hope he had better sense than to marry her)

[r9etb]

LOL. (Though I hope he had better sense than to marry her)

IIRC, Kennewick Man was found with a spear point amid his bones. If he did marry her, I suspect it was a self-inflicted wound....

[Sacajaweau]

That explains it. Married to Helen Thomas, the man had a "death wish".

[lawgirl]

Actually that goes to prove he probably ran against Bill Clinton for something. Or knew too much about the Clintons. Or perhaps was Hitlery's first boyfriend?

[NativeSon]

My personal feeling is that the bones should be buried in a proper nearby cemetery and "rest in peace".
Intrusion on this skeleton may tell us something but it will be nothing useful and much will be hypothetical jibberish.
The man died 9000 years ago. No one can "claim" him except the earth.

As with all of my Nation/Religion, I have a strong aversion to disturbing the dead. No matter how long dead- what is time to the Chindli or spirit?.

I have never understood the unnatural obsession with the dead.

[Tallguy]

Yes there is his wife, Helen Thomas.

Then can we expect that Kennewick Man died of suicide? Or perhaps he was 'nagged to death'!

[evets]

religion triumphs! Asatru priest Steve McNallen consecrates the Columbia Park ground near where Kennewick Man was found in the summer of 1996.

[gcruse]

But who's greater good?

Those who love knowledge.
Those who wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that the 'natives' the white man so traduced, traduced those who were pre-native.

[ElkGroveDan]

Is Kennewick Man curently above ground? Wasn't there an "inconvenient" skeleton that was buried very, very thoroughly during the Clinton Administration?

Not sure about the actual bones, but I do recall that in the name of all that is PC they bulldozed the site and buried it under tons of fill. As archeologists will point out, sometimes excavating the site of such a find can provide a treasure trove of artifacts and associated remains, as valubale or more so than the actual remains.

Too late for any of that.

[NativeSon]

Those who love knowledge. Those who wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that the 'natives' the white man so traduced, traduced those who were pre-native.

Still, does not address the "greater good".

Could be that folks are looking to assuage the collective guilt gained through five centuries of genocide.

[Bernard Marx]

The actual skeleton is intact and safe (except from the Indians' lawyers)!

The discovery site was bulldozed and wrip-wrapped with rocks by the Corps of Engineers because it didn't want to be bothered by the difficulties of dealing with the Indians' lawyers on the issue.

Meanwhile, if one of us picks up an arrowhead or digs for artifacts, we can go to jail for violating the Antiquities Act (which apparently doesn't apply to the Corps).

[gcruse]

Still, does not address the "greater good".

What is the 'greater good' of burying clues to the common history of mankind?