Posted on 02/22/2006 1:25:48 PM PST by Spunky
Scientists plan to disclose their findings about Kennewick Man on Thursday in Seattle, nearly a decade after the discovery of the 9,000-year-old skeleton that attracted worldwide interest and sparked a lengthy legal fight.
"Kennewick's story is finally going to get told," said Cleone Hawkinson, president of Friends of America's Past. Hawkinson has been working for years to ensure Kennewick Man's bones would be studied by the top scientists in the country.
Kennewick Man's bones are significant to scientists because they are considered one of the most complete ancient skeletons ever found. Scientists have theorized he was about 45 years old when he died, and had been wounded by a stone projectile.
Doug Owsley, the forensic anthropologist for the Smithsonian and the lead scientist studying Kennewick Man, will detail his findings at the American Academy of Forensic Scientists annual meeting.
He wouldn't reveal details about his upcoming speech, but he hinted it will be significant.
"I think you will be surprised at what all is accomplished," he said. "I'm anxious to share it. I think you will be taken aback with how much information is going to come out."
Owsley plans to say whether Kennewick Man was buried or not, and if his bones laid in the same position until he was discovered. Scientists have long wondered whether Kennewick Man drowned or was buried along the river.
The Mid-Columbia's most famous resident was found in 1996 along the shores of the Columbia River by teenagers sneaking their way into Water Follies, the annual hydroplane races.
The discovery of the ancient skull and bones triggered a nine-year-long legal clash between scientists, the federal government and Native American tribes who claimed Kennewick Man as their ancestor.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in the scientists' favor, allowing the first studies of the bones last summer.
Nearly all the scientists who were original plaintiffs in the case plan to attend Thursday's speech in front of the nation's finest forensic experts.
"I think I am going to be nervous that day," Owsley said.
The scientist has been working on the Kennewick Man project off and on since July's weeklong study at the Burke Museum in Seattle. He and a dozen experts have been coordinating their findings since leaving Seattle for their respective universities, project sites and labs around the country.
About 15 scientists will be conducting a second study of the bones this week at the University of Washington's Burke Museum in Seattle, Hawkinson said. Kennewick Man's remains are housed in the museum.
"It's a wonderful thing to have them all in the same place," she said.
This week's study will focus less on how Kennewick Man's bones changed over the centuries, and more on how he lived. Scientists likely will spend long hours at the lab, Owsley said.
Scientists plan to inspect Kennewick Man's hands and feet, the dimensions of his skull and look for repetitive stress to his bones. That will help them determine more about his daily life, his health and where he might have come from, Owsley said.
It's the last study planned for the bones. But Owsley said it's likely scientists will seek more studies in the future to confirm their findings and answer more questions.
Hawkinson said she expects experts from other countries will request the chance to study the bones as well. European, Asian and South American scientists are interested in how the skeleton compares to ancient remains in their countries.
But Hawkinson said all the tests and studies are sure to raise just as many questions as they answer.
"There may be some things that we will never know," she said.
Yours is in full view.
Our Congressman, Doc Hastings presented a bill to keep them from doing that. It passed the House and it passed the Senate, but before it could be put in the record, Clintoon went ahead an ordered the dirty job done. We sat and watched the cranes with buckets sitting idle while this legislation was taking place.
When it started up again, they put so much burlap, rocks and vegetation that it will be impossible to ever uncover the site to study it again.
What do you think/know about this???
No way. He was Irish.
He likely emigrated here as a result of the 1st potato famine - caused by them dam Druids.
LOL!
Since his bones were found to be below the earth level of fall out from Mount Mazama, it is fairly certain he was at least from 7000 years ago.
Nah, I'm thinking D. B. Cooper.
This is the first I have heard about this.. what was the justification for destroying the excavation site??
Do you mean the Ainu?
Yep, just wondered off on the way home from the pub. Happens to me all the time. As his direct descendent and rightful heir I demand a casino.
I rest my case.
It was Owsley who put the money and prestige of the Smithsonian institute on the side of the scientists to study Kennewick Man that brought this about.(and, It almost didn't happen)
I was so appreciative, I ordered a subscription to Smithsonian Magazine. Without that support, the Indians probably would have gotton the remains and hidden/buried them for ever
They already know how old he is, 9,400 years old. Some study was done before the Indians stopped it.
BTW, John McCain has a bill in Congress that would automatically give (without study) any bones found in this country to the Indians. I will never, ever vote for this guy for anything!!!
Yes, that's what he means...and, some Polynesian.
The only thing they could say about him that wouldn't be challenged would be that he was a muzzie. Muzzie scholars would surely agree and no one would disagree for fear of decapitation.
I take it you get your nonsense in the Giant Economy-sized packs of drivel from Sam's Club?
Hence, the "First Nation" types, to borrow a Canadian term, fight to keep researchers away from a skeleton much older
than what American Indians can document, "poodle papers" notwithstanding.
I did try to buy a book on the subject, but B&N couldn't find the one copy they had on hand, and my interest wandered
to other things...
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