Research Design: Approach to Documentation, Analysis, Interpretation, and Disposition of Human Remains Inadvertently Discovered at Columnbia Park, Kennewick, WA

Summary

This document is the initial research design developed for the investigation of the ancient human skeleton dscovered in the shallow water of Lake Wallulla, Kennewick, Washington. The design described in this document was used to organize the historical and scientific research carried out by the Department of the Interior and Corps of Engineers to provide a factual basis for resolving the controversy and legal dispute related to the human remains. The research design was intended to carry out the interagency agreement between the Department of the Army (DOA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) delegating responsibilities from the former to the latter for certain decisions related to the set of human remains from Columbia Park, Kennewick, W A. The agrreement called for the DOl to investigate and resolve two basic issues. First, DOl will determine whether or not the remains meet the definition of "Native American" for the purposes of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA.). Second, if the remains are Native American, the DOl will make a determination of the disposition of the remains uncer the requirements of NAGPRA. This document outlines the nondestructive procedures for documentation, examination, recording and analysis of the remains, as well as possible procedures for radiocarbon dating, DNA analysis, and other tests that may be necessary to determine whether the remains are "Native American," for the purposes of NAGPRA.

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Francis McManamon

Sponsor(s): Department of the Interior; Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles

Repository(s): Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

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