What is the Kennewick Man Argument About?
The Kennewick Man argument is a legal dispute over the remains of a 9,000-year-old human skeleton discovered in Kennewick, Washington, in 1996. The remains were initially believed to be Native American, and various tribes claimed the skeleton as part of their ancestral heritage. In 2004, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers declared the remains to be culturally unaffiliated, and thus not Native American. This opened the door for a suite of scientific research which proved the remains to be a unique population not closely related to any living Native American population.
This sparked a legal debate between scientists, Native American tribes, and the U.S. government over who had the right to study and own the remains. After a lengthy court process, the U.S. Department of the Interior declared the remains to be culturally unaffiliated in 2015, granting scientists the right to study them. The tribes still maintain their claim to the remains, but the courts have ruled that they have no legal standing to prevent the scientific study.
Science, Religion, and Politics
The Kennewick Man is an ancient human skeleton discovered in Kennewick, Washington, in 1996. The discovery of this 9,000-year-old skeleton has sparked a long-running debate about the origin and identity of the Kennewick Man. This debate has implications for the scientific, religious, and political arenas.
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Science :
Scientifically, the Kennewick Man has been studied extensively since its discovery. The skeleton has allowed scientists to gain a better understanding of the physical characteristics of ancient human populations in the region. The skeletal remains have also been used to study how early Native Americans adapted to their environment and what their diet was like. Additionally, the discovery of the skeleton has enabled scientists to trace the genetic origins of the ancient population in the region.
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Religion :
Religiously, the Kennewick Man has become a source of debate for many Native American tribes. Tribes in the Pacific Northwest, including the Umatilla, Yakama, and Nez Perce, have argued that the skeleton is an ancestor and should be treated with respect and reburied in accordance with their religious beliefs. Other tribal groups, such as the Colville and Spokane, have argued that the Kennewick Man is not an ancestor and should not be treated as such.
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Politics :
Politically, the debate surrounding the Kennewick Man has also been heavily contested. In 2000, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers declared the skeleton to be culturally affiliated with the Umatilla and other Native American tribes, thus granting them control over the remains. However, this decision was challenged in court by a group of scientists and anthropologists. In 2004, the court ruled in favor of the scientists, allowing them to continue their studies of the Kennewick Man. The political implications of the ruling are still being felt today, as the court's decision has caused tension between Native American tribes and the scientific community.
Post-Recovery Changes Of Knennewick Men
The Kennewick Man has made a remarkable recovery since his discovery in 1996. He has been re-examined by the scientific community and is now considered to be one of the oldest and most complete skeletons of its kind. Scientists have been able to learn a great deal about the man and his life from his remains.
One of the most significant changes that have been made to the Kennewick Man is the establishment of a formal identity. Scientists were able to use DNA testing to determine that he was related to modern Native American tribes. This has enabled the tribes to finally have a cultural connection to this ancient man. As a result, the Kennewick Man has been given the name "Ancient One" and is recognized as an ancestor of the Native American tribes.
To establishing a cultural identity, scientists have also been able to learn a great deal about the physical characteristics of the man. They have determined that he was approximately 8,500 years old, and that he had a robust physique and stood around 5 feet 9 inches tall. He also had a number of physical characteristics that are unique to Native Americans, including a broad face, high cheekbones, and shovel-shaped incisors.
The Kennewick Man has now been given a proper burial. In 2017, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which held the remains, agreed to return them to the five Native American tribes that are related to him. They held a traditional burial ceremony and the remains were laid to rest in a private location. This gave the man the proper burial that he deserved, and provided closure to the Native American tribes that had a connection to him.