Short for "GeologicalScienceBlog", subjects will include Geology, Climatology, Environmental Science, NASCAR, Beer, Property Rights, Politics from a Christian Conservative/Libertarian viewpoint, and random thoughts. My background is two degrees in Geology (BS, MS), 8 years of geology/environmental employment and almost 8 years of teaching Geology and Environmental Science on a Junior College level. <68>

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Politcal Correctness and the Censorship of Science

The above-linked article concerns the archeological future of "The Kennewick Man" skeletal remains. When the skeletal remains were found on the bank of the Columbia River in July, 1996, initial investigators thought they were investigating a murder. However, when the bones were subjected to radiometric age-dating, an estimated age of approximately 9,300 years (before present) was indicated. Of particular interest was the evidence that the skull showed characteristics of ethnic background other than modern "American Indian". Perhaps Asian, perhaps European, that is to be determined by further study and/or scientific debate.

Despite these early scientific discoveries, there almost immediately began a campaign to squelch ALL FUTURE STUDY of these skeletal remains and to order the immediate secret reburial in an unknown location. This effort began with government bureacrats, particularly the Army Corps of Engineers, using the NAGPRA Act (Native American Graves and Repatriation Act) and a coalition of Indian Tribes, led by the Umatilla Nation. As most regulations go, the NAGPRA Act was the result of past archeological abuses, but as human nature goes, the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction from unrespective treatment of human remains to NO STUDY AT ALL.

To ""save" the site from erosion (read future archeological study), the Army Corps of Engineers filled in the area from the river bank to the upper terrace. The entire area is now completely covered with tons of rock covered by dirt and dozens and dozens of young trees. It's difficult to imagine the original features. The willows and cottonwoods that were planted during the spring of 1998, just inches apart, are already well over five feet tall." [If a private developer had covered a "Native American" archeological site with tons of soil, there would be six-figure fines imposed, plus continued hammering in the press and by Lib/Leftist politicians.]

As with many issues, there is middle ground that is being ignored for political reasons. "Native American" activists have taken this to the zealous extreme, likely because if these remains are as old as they are, they may call into question whether or not the ancestors of current "Native Americans" were the first to colonize the continent. There is (in the zealots minds) great political sway in "who was first". If someone else "was first", they have lost some influence (or so they think).

Other linked articles on the include those by James C. Chatters and others on the Friends of America's Past website. The status of some of the bones in question and their localities are shown on a map. Most of these remains have been estimated to be between 7,000 to 13,000 years old, to old (and in many cases, too different) to be genetically & morphologically linked to todays tribes.

Some questions and statements raised on the status page:

"Ancient biologically and culturally unaffiliated skeletons are being lost forever.


Another case is the Spirit Cave Mummy, from Nevada.

More to follow...In the meantime, consult the links for more background info.

[Note: This posting will be expanded, when time allows - teachers have homework, too. If anyone attempts to use the title as justification for embryonic stem cell research, the two are not related, i.e., they are "apples and oranges" and I will elaborate on that later, too.]

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Posted by: on-the-rocks / 12:04 PM
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