Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998

Inventory observer recalls process

Burke Museum Entrance Inventory, Oct. 29, 1998, Beth Walton

1. I was plaintiffs' observer at the Burke Museum end of the transportation of the Kennewick Man bones. I am a professional archaeologist with more than 25 years of experience. I have 22 years of experience as a federal archaeologist with the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. This experience included the field identification, retrieval and protection of human bone in situations of "inadvertent discovery."

2. I arrived at the Burke Museum in Seattle WA at 11:35 a.m. on October 29, 1998. I met Sherrie Boyer, a member of the museum staff in the parking lot on the west side of the museum and was asked if my name was correct (it wasn't and I corrected it with her). She circulated the correct information to the members of the press through "Dutch" Meiers of CoE and another CoE person.

4. The entry area is also a loading dock under day to day circumstances. It has a personnel door and immediately adjacent a large delivery door (probably 10 by 12 feet). The ID and search area was staffed by two or three Burke Museum people by, two uniformed (U of Washington) guards and one plainclothes armed officer. After entry, I was encouraged to stay in a large adjacent room (normally a classroom) where chairs and coffee were available. Observers were warned to stay away from the glass doors of the loading dock so that we "would not look like rats in a cage to the press outside." Movement from the classroom to any other interior space (e.g., to the restroom) required a Burke Museum staff escort.

5. At 11:55 a.m. a white van, Gov. Lic. Plate G41-38963 pulled to the parking lot in front of the loading dock. Three uniformed police and Dr. Michael Trimble emerged from the van. Dr. Trimble came into the entry area. Other members of the analytical and exit inventory team came into the entry area very soon after Dr. Trimble (presumably they arrived in other vehicles).

7. Dr. Julie Stein, Burke Museum, welcomed everyone. She stated that while the Native American and Asatru ceremonies were going on, the scientific team would have lunch. No one was allowed to enter or leave the building during the ceremonies. I therefore have no idea what happened at the ceremonies. While waiting for the end of the ceremonies. I had an opportunity to meet and chat with John Leier (CoE Walla Walla).

8. At 12:55 p.m. a gray box about 15" by 24" by 4" was brought from the van. Moments later Chris Pilliam and Dr. Trimble followed with a cloth shrouded box shaped object. These items were whisked past the classroom door and out of the entry area.

9. Dr. Stein marshaled the people with pink tags into the elevator and escorted us down one floor to the basement. We were then led down a corridor, which formed three sides of a square. At a door closing off the corridor, each person's carried items were searched, as were the pockets of outerwear.

11. From the position where I was seated, I could observe part, but not all, of the scientific team as they were seated around tables. I could clearly see Rhonda, as she faced me; Nancy and Vicki were in profile to me; Dr. Trimble was back to me, facing Rhonda. Dr. Stein was half profile, half facing me at the edge of the unseen portion of the room from my seated position. The seating situation prevented me from making any meaningful observation of the Kennewick materials. Moreover, I was not allowed to have a copy of the "list of bone elements by care number" that was the basis of the entry inventory.

12. From my sitting height I could not see the bones in the packages, all I could see was that there were packages.

14. Dr. Trimble told us that the smaller flexible tub contained Kennewick fragments from the original discovery and collections made later. The large flexible tub contained 12 boxes that were said to hold only materials from the first collection of Kennewick material.

15. The unpacking of these boxes began at approximately 2:40 p.m. As box 9 was being unpacked, I was invited by Dr. Trimble to come up to his table to observe the sediment and matrix that was still adhering to the packaged bones. Before I completed this examination and my discussion with Dr. Trimble, I was directed by Dr. Stein to step back behind the red tape marker and resume my seat. I complied.

16. During the unpacking of box 2, Dr. Trimble again invited me to view the bones, specifically the ilium fragment containing the projectile point. I accepted his invitation and we again began a discussion. Once again our discussion was interrupted. This time a guard tapped me on the shoulder and directing me to sit down. Again, I complied.

18. Other Comments and Observations:

A. It appeared to me that all visible members of the scientific team (except Dr. Stein) wore latex gloves throughout the inventory process. However, they could be seen to touch their face or hair on numerous occasions with their gloves. Given these circumstances, it is not clear what purpose the gloves were expected to accomplish.

B. Relative humidity indicators were removed from each box upon opening. The large tub had a tilt indicator attached to its exterior.

C. Since I had not seen the list of bone elements and was unable to see the labels or bones on a consistent basis as they were unpacked, I cannot confirm whether all elements of the collections were actually present.

D. Since I never saw the gray box and shrouded objects once they passed the classroom door, I don't actually know under what circumstances the Kennewick collection entered the Burke Museum. The only times I could witness that there were actually bones in the Ziplock bags were the times Dr. Trimble allowed me to stand close and observe. The only bones I actually saw were two tibia shaft fragments, a metacarpal or metatarsal, the distal end of a femur, the ilium fragment containing an embedded stone tool (the only piece that is actually unique to Kennewick on macro observation), and the cranium.

E. The bags I saw would generally have fit into the front pocket of the slacks I was wearing. Given the small size of the bags of materials, the searches of staff and observer's personal possessions and outerwear were insufficient to assure that no bags were removed from the collection.