Kennewick Man / The Ancient One

Record summary

The remains known as Kennewick Man, or The Ancient One, were found near the Columbia River in 1996 and became the subject of a major dispute over scientific study, racial classification, tribal affiliation, and repatriation. Early morphological interpretations suggested unusual affinities, while later genomic research demonstrated close relationship to contemporary Native American populations. The case is important for examining how old remains are framed, how scientific categories change, and how federal law intersects with Indigenous sovereignty. It concluded with repatriation and burial in 2017.