A fascinating account of the discovery of a 9,000-year-old skeleton in Washington State. This book details the amazing new information provided by the find, along with advancements in scientific examination, and a controversy over ownership of the skeleton. Bibliography, Index.

In 1996 a skull was found in the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington. Initial radiocarbon dating, approximately 4 weeks after the bones were found, told the scientists that this man was around 9,000 years old. Due to NGAPRA and its interpretation Indian tribes generally request and receive ancient bones discovered in their ancestral territory and these bones are not examined by the scientific community. A group of 8 sued the government to allow the study of Kennewick Man. It took 3 years before scientists were allowed a short-term examination of the bones. In 1999 the team of scientists who examined the bones, concluded that Kennewick man more closely resembled people from Polynesia and southern Asia than Native Americans or Europeans.

So finally, After 8 years in court, the original 8 scientists, anthropologists, archeologists, etc. who had sued to be allowed to examine and study the bones won their case. Kennewick Man was not a traveler he had lived in the area nor was he affiliated with a modern tribe. In 2004 scientists were began examining the bones, this book is a narrative of their findings; combined with background information on other Paleoamerican remains found across the United States.

I couldn’t wait to turn the page, the photographs of the bones the detailed explanations of findings and the questions left to be answered enthralled me. Clan of the Cave Bear, TV forensic shows aside - there are some definitely interesting scientific advances that keep asking and answering questions of when North America became inhabited and who these people were and how they lived. ( )

Collaborating with a Smithsonian anthropologist, Sally Walker once again delves deeply into the worlds of archeaology, physical anthropology, and forensic science. A fascinating, insightful, handsomely designed and illustrated book though not quite as compelling as Walker's Written in Bone. ( )