Kennewick Man returns!

[Judy G. Russell]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kennewick Man was laid to rest alongside a river more than 9,000 years ago, buried by other people, a leading forensic scientist said Thursday.

The skeleton, one of the oldest and most complete ever found in North America, has been under close analysis since courts sided with researchers in a legal battle with Indian tribes in the Northwest who wanted the remains found near the Columbia River reburied without study.

More at CNN's website (http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/02/24/kennewick.man.ap/index.html).

[Jeff]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kennewick Man was laid to rest alongside a river more than 9,000 years ago, buried by other people, a leading forensic scientist said Thursday.

The skeleton, one of the oldest and most complete ever found in North America, has been under close analysis since courts sided with researchers in a legal battle with Indian tribes in the Northwest who wanted the remains found near the Columbia River reburied without study.

More at CNN's website (http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/02/24/kennewick.man.ap/index.html).

More here, actually: http://www.kennewick-man.com/

The biggest deal it turns out is that he was actually buried, as opposed to all of the other possibilities. That would have been pretty damned civilized 9,000 years ago.

- Jeff

[Judy G. Russell]

Cool website.

[Lindsey]

The biggest deal it turns out is that he was actually buried, as opposed to all of the other possibilities. That would have been pretty damned civilized 9,000 years ago.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Neanderthals also bury their dead?

--Lindsey

[Jeff]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Neanderthals also bury their dead?

--Lindsey

I'm not sure, but for certain I've never heard of a burial of such intention and purposefulness from 10,000 years ago. There was nothing accidental about it. In fact, except for the depth it was a modern burial.

- Jeff

[Lindsey]

I'm not sure, but for certain I've never heard of a burial of such intention and purposefulness from 10,000 years ago. There was nothing accidental about it. In fact, except for the depth it was a modern burial.

I don't know enough to really compare the two, but I'm pretty sure I've read of Neanderthal dead being found with evidence of having been buried with flowers and medicinal herbs, and with tools. Hmmm, but that may have been re-evaluated in recent years. See here: http://www.athenapub.com/8shea1.htm

--Lindsey