Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006

Scientists releasing Kennewick Man research

By Anna King, Herald staff writer

Scientists plan to disclose their findings about Kennewick Man on Thursday in Seattle, nearly a decade after the discovery of the 9,000-year-old skeleton that attracted worldwide interest and sparked a lengthy legal fight.

"Kennewick's story is finally going to get told," said Cleone Hawkinson, president of Friends of America's Past. Hawkinson has been working for years to ensure Kennewick Man's bones would be studied by the top scientists in the country.

Kennewick Man's bones are significant to scientists because they are considered one of the most complete ancient skeletons ever found. Scientists have theorized he was about 45 years old when he died, and had been wounded by a stone projectile.

Doug Owsley, the forensic anthropologist for the Smithsonian and the lead scientist studying Kennewick Man, will detail his findings at the American Academy of Forensic Scientists annual meeting.

He wouldn't reveal details about his upcoming speech, but he hinted it will be significant.

"I think you will be surprised at what all is accomplished," he said. "I'm anxious to share it. I think you will be taken aback with how much information is going to come out."

Owsley plans to say whether Kennewick Man was buried or not, and if his bones laid in the same position until he was discovered. Scientists have long wondered whether Kennewick Man drowned or was buried along the river.

The Mid-Columbia's most famous resident was found in 1996 along the shores of the Columbia River by teenagers sneaking their way into Water Follies, the annual hydroplane races.

The discovery of the ancient skull and bones triggered a nine-year-long legal clash between scientists, the federal government and Native American tribes who claimed Kennewick Man as their ancestor.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in the scientists' favor, allowing the first studies of the bones last summer.

Nearly all the scientists who were original plaintiffs in the case plan to attend Thursday's speech in front of the nation's finest forensic experts.

"I think I am going to be nervous that day," Owsley said.

The scientist has been working on the Kennewick Man project off and on since July's weeklong study at the Burke Museum in Seattle. He and a dozen experts have been coordinating their findings since leaving Seattle for their respective universities, project sites and labs around the country.

About 15 scientists will be conducting a second study of the bones this week at the University of Washington's Burke Museum in Seattle, Hawkinson said. Kennewick Man's remains are housed in the museum.

"It's a wonderful thing to have them all in the same place," she said.

This week's study will focus less on how Kennewick Man's bones changed over the centuries, and more on how he lived. Scientists likely will spend long hours at the lab, Owsley said.

Scientists plan to inspect Kennewick Man's hands and feet, the dimensions of his skull and look for repetitive stress to his bones. That will help them determine more about his daily life, his health and where he might have come from, Owsley said.

It's the last study planned for the bones. But Owsley said it's likely scientists will seek more studies in the future to confirm their findings and answer more questions.

Hawkinson said she expects experts from other countries will request the chance to study the bones as well. European, Asian and South American scientists are interested in how the skeleton compares to ancient remains in their countries.

But Hawkinson said all the tests and studies are sure to raise just as many questions as they answer.

"There may be some things that we will never know," she said.