Ancient Encounters: Kennewick Man and the First Americans

The story of the fight over Kennewick Man begins in 1996, with the discovery of a mystery skeleton in the mud of the Columbia River, near Kennewick, Washington, and, by its end, tells us more about our own strange modern world than it does about the K-man's long lost one. Chatters recounts the struggle over K-man's remains in fascinating detail. His is a nonfiction work that also provides some of the satisfactions of a mystery and a thriller (so might want to jump over parts of this), as well as an absurdist tragicomedy. The last, thanks mostly to a US Army Corps of Engineers that exhibits all the serious scientific integrity and commitment to due process one might expect if a mad political scientist had managed to join Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks to the Spanish Inquisition. Chatters' first reaction is that the skeleton belongs to some early colonial-era white pioneer; however, upon closer inspection, the remains prove to be much older. The initial examination is barely complete when the federal government, having jurisdiction over the excavation site, begins to seize K-man's remains to turn them over to local Indians. The government declares that it is carrying out the provisions of the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), a law, according to Chatters, which is "being used by the Indian tribes to reclaim all ancient human skeletons, regardless of their age and often with little or no opportunity allowed for scientific investigation." As the government begins to close in on K-man, Chatters hurriedly consults another anthropologist, a highly respected forensic competitor, in order to obtain an unbiased second opinion: `Male Caucasian,' she said. `You sure?' I asked. `Easy call,' was the firm response. `The face?' I probed. `White guy.' `Mandible?' `White guy.' ..." On the day that lawmen were on their way, Chatters carefully arranges, describes and videotapes the bones, in hopes of saving as much scientific information as possible before K-man's ancient story would be boxed up, carried off, and forever buried in a secret location. Chatters stresses the gravity of the archaeological find, being only one of two complete early skeletons from the entire continent. Chatters' emergency videotaping proves wise, since the government's level of stewardship turns out to be something less than Smithsonian. People, mostly Indians, pay visits to the remains, now kept in an unpadded box, after which some bones are found damaged, others destroyed, others go missing. The invaluable remains are also adulterated with newly introduced bones and various ceremonial materials. And, to obtain radiocarbon samples, the government employs a rotary saw on K-man's leg and foot bones with a feathery lightness of touch that might be more appropriate for hydroelectric damn demolition. Fortunately, thanks to Chatters and allies, the courts begin holding hearings. But this doesn't stop the Interior Department from plun

This is one of the best books I've read. ever. Chatters not only shares his own theories, but he also gives the reader a complete picture of what theories are out there regarding the first Americans. When he recounts the details of the Kennewick man hearings, he doesn't slander those on the other side of the debate, but rather tries to give the reader the best view of what occured, though you can tell that the destructive actions of the corps sadden him. This is one of the easiest and most interesting reads. From the introduction where he theorizes about Kennewick man's death in story format, to the lawsuit over his remains, to the very detailed and great information about the morphology of the skull, and how it is similar to each group that is existent now and how it differs. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in archaeology.

James Chatters is a professional forensic anthropologist, paleoecologist, and archeologist working in Washington state. As such he became involved in the recent finding of the so-called Kennewick Man and the political furor over the disposition of the remains. The book is an in-depth discussion of almost every aspect of the discovery: the initial find, the socio-political conflict over it, the brief analysis of the remains, and the overall enlightment that it casts on human migrations.For Native American activists the issue was one of yet another example of dispossession of by those of European descent, this time in the name of science. For "science" here read the "manifest destiny" of the 19th century proponents of the westward expansion that led to a systematic, almost Hitleresque genocide of the indigenous inhabitants of the continent. The active political voices of the Native American activists since the 1960s had led to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) in the 1990s, and the discovery of the skeletal remains of an early American eroded from a river bank in 1996 put the laws to a critical test, one that is still yet to be settled. For the scientists the issue was of information irretrievably lost to the store of human knowledge about the past. For this issue read "truth" forever vanquished by the "superstition" of the dark side. Certainly in a time when the validity of science education is challenged by every Tom, Dick and Harry with an opinion, when the average person is unable to think critically, when the media are rife with occult nonsense, and when "reality" TV occupies whole evenings of family time one can hardly blame them for suspecting as much! For myself, I find the research into the human past to be an intriguing pursuit. I read Dr. Chatter's book in about a day, hanging on every word. I have to admit, though, that most of my friends and co-workers consider me an eccentric, so I know for a fact that not every one holds my high opinion of this field of endeavor. I can therefore see why Native American people, given their history with their European neighbors, might consider the analysis of the Kennewick remains as a dangerous effort to once again dispossess them, this time of what they consider to be their history and right of priority in the land. The book brings into sharp relief that the confrontation was due to two groups of people each approaching the world with their own view and lacking understanding of the perspective of the other. It also points out, just as the brewhaha over the Ice Man in Europe did, just how much a part politics, ego, and media involvement has to do with disputes of this sort. One can only hope that in the future, scientists and Native American groups can work together with greater accord. Certainly what was discovered about the Kennewick man gave me more respect for the closeness of the global human population and for the successful adaptation of the ea

You don't often find a science book that falls into the "reads-like-an-Agatha-Christie-can't-put-it-down" category, but James Chatters has managed to present an account of Kennewick Man that is as readable as it is informative and thought-provoking. I highly recommend Ancient Encounters: Kennewick Man and the First Americans.The 9,500-year-old Kennewick skeleton has challenged conventional thinking about the original populations of the Americas, and Dr. Chatters walks us through the anthropological complexities with clarity and balance. As the forensic specialist who first studied the bones, Chatters employs the skeleton's pathologies as a kind of artist's palette with which to paint a vivid picture of the perilous world of the early hunter-gatherers. They did not enjoy the idyllic existence we might dream of.But this is more than a book about science. It is also an eye-opening look at the politics of science, revealed through the sometimes hour-by-hour account of Dr. Chatters's desperate efforts to study Kennewick Man before the bones were impounded. The rational, detached world of scientific inquiry they told us about in ninth grade science class does not exist -- through Dr. Chatters's experience we confront an Orwellian world where government bureaucracy, special interest groups and political ideology manipulate the scientific process, and where those who do not follow the politically correct line risk being blacklisted by a new McCarthyism. Nevertheless, Chatters maintains a refreshing open mindedness and presents a balanced view of the complex issues.James Chatters has a rare gift for combining clear exposition with vivid storytelling. I hope he will write more.

Factually based Chatters brings the story of Kennewick Man into your living room detailing the chance find of the 9500 year old skeleton and painstakingly describing the ensuing legal battle over the right to study the bones. Pitted against an all powerful politically-motivated federal government, eight prominent scientists, together with their pro bono attorney, struggle to win the right to study the bones. Theirs' is a quest for knowledge of the earliest americans, not folklore, in a simple pursuit of the truth. In addition to a thesis like description of the oldest complete skeleton found in the US, Ancient Encounters takes the reader on an unforgettable journey retracing likely paths the earliest americans followed in peopling North America. Though slightly verbose at times Chatters takes a difficult controversial subject and treats it with respect and grace. Definitely worth reading for anyone curious about the real story behind Kennewick Man and the earliest americans.