Mysterious Bones:
The Story of Kennewick Man
by Katherine KirkpatrickIllustrated by Emma Stevenson
Holiday House
When two young men accidentally uncovered a skeleton along the banks of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington, they had no idea of the impact of their discovery. The bones were those of one of the oldest and most complete skeletons ever recovered in this country. Scientists were eager to measure him and perform tests. Who was this man? How did he die? How long ago did he live? Scientists hoped that by studying this man, they could gain much information about the people who lived in the Americas thousands of years ago.
Native Americans living in the region where the skeleton was found requested the bones to be turned over to them. They consider the Ancient One to be their ancestor, not a “find” or an “artifact.” As the ancient man was one of their people, they asserted, it was their duty to return his bones to the earth. They sought to do this quickly, with the proper religious ceremony. Destructive DNA testing of the bones and other investigative procedures, they said, violated the Tribes’ basic human right to protect their dead, as defined by federal law.
From the day he was found, July 28, 1996, the shape of the skull, which appeared to deviate from what scientists considered the traditional shape for Native Americans, fueled sensationalism, curiosity, and historical scrutiny. Groups of people looked at the very same skull and each saw a different face. For some, he represented discovery and hope. For others, he symbolized the wrongs of the past. Ultimately, he became the focus of a dispute that reached beyond borders and beyond history.
Author’s Note:
“Writing Mysterious Bones was very difficult for me. Some of the research material made me very uncomfortable. With each new draft, I learned more about the Kennewick Man controversy and my own opinions kept changing as a result. Some projects just take a lot of time because inner-work, soul work, takes time. I’m surprised at where this book has taken me, both as a writer and as a human being. May all our projects become journeys of the heart.”