Kennewick Man Speaks

Seattle Times ^ | 2-7-2004

[blam]

Kennewick Man speaks

Kennewick Man has held onto his secrets for more than 9,000 years and now, finally, scientists will get a chance to be his voice.

This week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals pushed the truths resting within the bones at the Burke Museum closer to the light with its decision that scientists can study them. The appeals court affirmed a lower-court decision that the Interior Department erred in its decision to give the bones to the Native American tribes that claim them as those of an ancestor. The government might appeal to the Supreme Court.

But the 9th Circuit's ruling explicitly concludes there is no evidence of a genetic or cultural link between Kennewick Man and the modern-day tribes. Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt ruled the remains found on federal property should be given to the tribes under the federal repatriation law because the bones predated Columbus' 1492 landing in North America. The tribes, who want to bury the remains, argued Kennewick Man was their ancestor because their oral histories contained no migration stories.

But eight prominent scientists sued for the right to study Kennewick Man and shed light on the peopling of the Americas. Limited studies concluded the remains more closely resemble modern-day people in Polynesia or the Ainu of Japan than they do Native Americans. Experts say they also resemble those of other ancient bones found elsewhere in the Americas far from the Columbia River Basin and, some believe, a set of 25,000-year-old bones in China.

The court's rejection of the pre-Columbian rule has implications for the study of other ancient remains, including those of Pan Era Woman, a set of 12,000-year-old remains found on federal property in Texas. Kennewick Man is holding the door open so other ancient remains aren't buried with their secrets.

The Native American Graves and Repatriation Act is a good law designed to return remains and artifacts to tribes with which actual connections can be established. But as science suggested and a federal judge and appeals court concluded — Kennewick Man is in a different category.

He belongs to all of us.

[blam]

Excellent, excellent decision.

[blam]

Pan Era Woman

[blam]

Skeletal Remains May Be 11,000 Years Old (Lake Jackson, Texas)

[blam]

I wonder if we'll be able to dig up Buhl Woman again.

[nopardons]

Finally! Now, at last, we'll learn more about Kennewick Man! :-)

[ruoflaw]

wonderful news!

[dennisw]

Hopefully this is the last word and phony baloney Indian claims have been smacked down for good.

[claptrap]

How do these dates of 12000 years and 9000 years get arrived at?
Carbon dating is a fraud as is alot of purported "scientific facts".
Plus alot of unexplained skeletal remains are never studied
or brought to attention because they dont fit with the
"party line" of modern archeologists.

[John Beresford Tipton]

" Babbitt ruled the remains found on federal property should be given to the tribes"...

whose casinos are a flush source of political contributions and other graft.

[husky ed]

We may have been able to learn even more if the Corps of Engineer's hadn't bulldozed 20 tons of rock on the spot where he was found.

They did this so fast that no one had time to protest or even knew that it was going to happen.

[blam]

"Plus alot of unexplained skeletal remains are never studied or brought to attention because they dont fit with the "party line" of modern archeologists."

Yup. Only a few people know about those...and, those of us who know, have been instructed not to tell you. There are weekly meeting in the dead of night devising ways to keep this all secret. Now, don't expect to hear anymore about this... I may be in trouble with 'the committee' already.

[RightWingAtheist]

Goes to show that creationists and multiculturalists make not-so strange bedfellows

[xJones]

Limited studies concluded the remains more closely resemble modern-day people in Polynesia or the Ainu of Japan than they do Native Americans. Experts say they also resemble those of other ancient bones found elsewhere in the Americas far from the Columbia River Basin and, some believe, a set of 25,000-year-old bones in China.

This is interesting, Blam. If these limited studies pan out, those old ones really got around.

Goes to show that creationists and multiculturalists make not-so strange bedfellows

Shows what you don't know. If you ever want to see a world-class fight, try sticking a creationist in bed with multiculturalists.

[Myrddin]

It's good to see honest scientific research can proceed without being impeded by groups trying to hold on to political power. It's fine to return remains that are actually "native american" to the appropriate tribes. It is immoral for those tribes to try to ban legitimate inquiry that might expose other, older inhabitants that would "dethrone" the claims of "native americans".

It is also annoying that any land in the United States could be designated "federal land". The Constitution puts specific limits on what the federal government can use. The politicians are using the Constitution as toilet paper when they grab land and designate it "federal". It is even more egregious when the federal government cedes control of U.S. land to foreign powers such as the United Nations.

[RightWingAtheist]

Actually, it shows how little you know, or are able to discern. The attempt to squelch science-specifically, the study of human origins-in the name of Native superstions is no different than the continuing efforts of creationists to do the same in the name of their own personal myths. This should be evident to any reasonable person.

[RightWingAtheist]

Ready the troops

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[pabianice]

After all, Kennewick Man was found with a Democratic Party membership card in his bag...

[xJones]

Actually, it shows how little you know, or are able to discern. The attempt to squelch science-specifically, the study of human origins-in the name of Native superstions is no different than the continuing efforts of creationists to do the same in the name of their own personal myths. This should be evident to any reasonable person.

In addition to having no sense of humor, you're so....pompous. If there is a hell, bores will surely be on the lowest ring.

BTW, watch out, the Unitarians may claim you. And worse yet, two of your words bombed on spell-check.;)

[nopardons]

Yes, I remember that; it was an utter disgrace!