Thanks for the post, this stuff is fascinating. I would think the tribes would be interested in finding out more about their ancester, if that's what he was. I'm glad they have been able to study these bones. I'm all for treating bodies with respect, but bones (or dead bodies) are not the person. Certainly it's different if it is the body of someone you actually knew in life, but this is not really about desecration of the dead or honoring ancesters (at least I don't think so).
Is there a ping list for this topic?
susie
I do believe he was different than the Indian ancestors. If I remember right in reading a book about it, the DNA tests placed the origin of Kennewick Man's ancestors as coming from Northern Africa. I'll have to recheck that.
The tribes have been fighting this from the day he was found - and they got even more emphatic when evidence came to light that 1-he was older than previous "native American" ancestors, and 2-he was not genetically related to other "native American" ancestors. If they can prove (and it seems they have) that this person who was not a "native American" was here before ancestors of todays "native Americans" then their claims to being the original occupants of these lands fall apart, as does the basis for their treaties that grant them all of their special rights. Heap BIG political issue.
No!
The indians are NOT interested in any finding that might indicate that "they" were NOT here first.