Power Struggle to Control Ancient Bones

December 1st, 2007 By MATTHEW DALY, Associated Press Writer

A plastic casting of the skull of the Kennewick man is shown in Richland, Wash. in this July 24, 1997 file photo. Scientists hoping to study the ancient skeleton known as Kennewick Man are protesting efforts on two fronts that they say could block them from examining one of the oldest and most complete ever found in North America. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

(AP) -- Scientists hoping to study the ancient skeleton known as Kennewick Man are protesting efforts that they say could block them from examining one of the oldest and most complete set of bones ever found in North America.

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• mattytheory - Dec 01, 2007
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  correct me if i am wrong, but the current theories regarding human presence in the americas are a result of a land-bridge that connected europe to the americas, and the migration that followed is what allowed the "indians" to become the "native" peoples of this land. however, if this is the case, it would seem that this skeleton's ancestry PREDATES the claim of the indians that he is of tribal descent. and, for that matter, how are they going to prove lineage that is over 9000 years old? i might be old-fashioned, but for something to be legally binding, it shouldnt have any holes...
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• wesgeorge - Dec 02, 2007
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  We are all ultimately related to a very small group of ancient ancestors.
  
  For any native graves protection act to have any meaning it must be limited to demonstrably direct ancestors. The ancient ones belong to all humankind, rather than a single tribe.
  
  For instance, the fairly modern tribal inhabitants of France, the Celts, clearly have no genetic or cultural relationship to the people that occupied the same land 10,000 years ago. The same situation seems likely in America. In fact, modern tribes are likely to have displaced the earlier people, making any claim to their remains not only misplaced but an insult to the ancient spirits. I am surprised that shamanic tribal leadership today would allow such a crime to occur in their name. But then perhaps they have long forgotten the old ways.
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• SDMike - Dec 03, 2007
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  The earliest remains in the Americas are clearly Caucasian. These peoples were apparently wiped out by the North American meteor/comet strike predating the arrival of peoples from Asia.
  
  Never-the-less, the Democrat controlled PC nuts in congress want to do "what's right" and that doesn't include science. Strange when "what's right" is embryonic stem cells they say it's because of science.
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