Tribes Appeal Kennewick Man Ruling, Seek Role In Future Finds

Seattlepi.com ^ | 2-16-2005 | AP

[Varda]

The scientific evidence is that Kennewick Man is NOT caucasion but from an older group of humans.

Report on the Osteological Assessment of the "Kennewick Man" Skeleton
Joseph F. Powell and Jerome C. Rose

" The question of "Caucasoid" affinities for the Kennewick remains can be addressed, depending on how the term "Caucasoid" is defined. In the strictest sense, this refers to populations of western and southwest Eurasia-- peoples that live or lived in what is now Europe, the near East, and India. When defined in this way, Kennewick is clearly not a Caucasoid."

"The Kennewick skeleton can be excluded, on the basis of dental and cranial morphology, from recent American Indians. More importantly, it can be excluded (on the basis of typicality probabilities) from all late Holocene human groups."
http://www.cr.nps.gov/aad/kennewick/powell_rose.htm

He's not a modern Indian either but that doesn't mean he may not be an ancestor. Biology and culture are exclusive traits. Whats important under NAGPRA is that he has no cultural affinity. So he's fair game for research.

[Varda]

There isn't any doubt that NAGPRA was needed because of the blatant double standard of so many Americans concerning Native burials.