KENNEWICK, Wash. – On this day of July 28, 1996, the remains of Kennewick Man, an ancient Native American, were discovered accidentally by college students Will Thomas and David Deacy along the Columbia River.
The remains, dating back 8,400 to 8,690 years ago, sparked significant controversy.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had custody of the remains, but Native American tribes sought to rebury him under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
The scientific community was divided. Some researchers argued for further study, suggesting Kennewick Man was more closely related to Polynesian or Southeast Asian peoples, potentially exempting the remains from NAGPRA.
In 2015, advancements in DNA analysis led to a breakthrough. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen determined Kennewick Man’s genome was within the diversity of contemporary Native Americans, strengthening the tribes’ claims.
In September 2016, the U.S. House and Senate passed legislation to return the remains to a coalition of Columbia Basin tribes.
On February 18, 2017, Kennewick Man was reburied according to tribal traditions at an undisclosed location, with over 200 tribal members in attendance.
