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.

[Rodney King]

For the record: Kennewick Man is a Viking, and all of North America is a part of Greater Vinland. Now all of you who don't belong get the hell out.

[carpio]

BTTT

[Right Wing Professor]

Darwin central calling, cleanup needed. Top ultra secrets disclosed by one of our agents. Terminate with extreme prejudice, and get the spin team to work, right after they're rebury those embarrasing fossils of a velociraptor attached to a dog-leash.

[sfRummygirl]

My God, I agree with the 9th circuit. Let me right this down on the calendar.
I wondered whatever happened to this skull. I figured they probably 'lost' it by now.
All the casinos belong to us.
(I'm sure someone already made that joke)

[night reader]

'Bout a hunert years ago... OK I'll be honest... about fifty years ago, as a pre-adolescent, I read a book called They All Discovered America. It was written for laymen, indeed, even for young readers. It listed, and presented arguments for the existence of numerous pre-Columbian discoverers of America. Some were listed by name, others merely by evidence of the presence of artifacts of certain ethnicity and certain age somewhere in the Americas. Does anyone know of such a book (easy reading) containing the latest discoveries and theories?

[NukeMan]

Another Freeper recommended the book Columbus Was Last, by Patrick Huyghe (er, spelling maybe off, too lazy to Google). It was a fascinating read!

[curmudgeonII]

...ruling explicitly concludes there is no evidence of a genetic or cultural link between Kennewick Man and the modern-day tribes.

I can't say I'm too enthused about any court, especially this one, determining what is scientifically correct.

[firebrand]

It's true, though. Courts decide on the basis of scientific evidence all the time, and this guy bears no relation to any recent tribes. Look at the pictures. It's clear. Because of the way the law was written, any remains found on their ancestral lands are theirs, but science has trumped badly written law.

[RightWingAtheist]

I forgot to add Mr. Smiley :-(

Sorry; I was trying to "echo" your initial reply, but I didn't word your first sentence correctly.

[PatrickHenry]

PING. [This ping list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and sometimes for other science topics. FReepmail me to be added or dropped.]

[PatrickHenry]

This decision comes from the 9th Circuit. It bothers me to celebrate anything those guys do, but I guess every now and then they get it right.

[xJones]

Sorry; I was trying to "echo" your initial reply, but I didn't word your first sentence correctly.

You didn't word any sentence of mine correctly at all, but you won't understand. (;^=(

[Polybius]

Excellent, excellent decision.

From the 9th Circuit Court?

Just proves that even a blind squirrel will find a nut every once in a while.

[Chris Talk]

I have a Norwegian great-grandfather, so am I in?

Read the excellent (and hard to get) book by Barry Fell called Bronze Age America, if you can get it, as to the finding of proven Scandinavian inscriptions from BC 1700 in Ontario, Canada... where they were routinely trading for copper and possibly other metals.

The Canadian government actually incised off the rock, found in the Fifties, the most characteristically Scandinavian inscriptions and pictographs. The current
displays and visitors center at the site attributes everything to "the tribes," which IS progress. Are Norwegians a "tribe?" Most of them that I have asked say yes, they ARE a tribe.

[Pharmboy]

Kennenwick Man

Ainu.

Hmmm...if this guy lost 30 pounds and had his head shaved, he'd be pretty close.

[Chris Talk]

It is just a part of their ongoing jihad against religion, ANY religion!

[Chris Talk]

Start with anything by Barry Fell. The Bolton book you mention remains very good, he was far ahead of his time.

[Chris Talk]

d-d Internet gremlins. BOLAND, not Bolton.

[The Mayor]

This could have a great impact on the Indian claim to Grand Island where I live..

[blam]

" Does anyone know of such a book (easy reading) containing the latest discoveries and theories?"

I found America BC by Dr Barry Fell intriguing. (Maybe a little dated though, 1986)

(Check the bookmarks on my profile page for some of the most recent discoveries)