In this Book
- Kennewick Man: The Scientific Investigation of an Ancient American Skeleton
- Book
- 2014
- Published by: Texas A&M University Press
Almost from the day of its accidental discovery along the banks of the Columbia River in Washington State in July 1996, the ancient skeleton of Kennewick Man has garnered significant attention from scientific and Native American communities as well as public media outlets. This volume represents a collaboration among physical and forensic anthropologists, archaeologists, geologists, and geochemists, among others, and presents the results of the scientific study of this remarkable find. Scholars address a range of topics, from basic aspects of osteological analysis to advanced ?research focused on Kennewick Man’s origins and his relationships to other populations. Interdisciplinary studies, comprehensive data collection and preservation, and applications of technology are all critical to telling Kennewick Man’s story.
Kennewick Man: The Scientific Investigation of an Ancient American Skeleton is written for a discerning professional audience, yet the absorbing story of the remains, their discovery, their curation history, and the extensive amount of detail that skilled scientists have been able to glean from them will appeal to interested and informed general readers. These bones lay silent for nearly nine thousand years, but now, with the aid of dedicated researchers, they can speak about the life of one of the earliest human occupants of North America.
Table of Contents

- Establishing Context
- Studying Skeletal Evidence
- 8. Dentition
- pp. 187-194
- 9. Dental Microwear
- pp. 195-206
- 10. Orthodontics
- pp. 207-211
- 13. Bones of the Hands and Feet
- pp. 249-278
- 14. The Natural Shocks That Flesh Is Heir To
- pp. 279-289
- 17. Taphonomic Indicators of Burial Context
- pp. 323-381
- Applying Technology to Interpretation
- 21. Prototype Accuracy and Reassembly
- pp. 429-446
- 22. Molding and Casting Methods
- pp. 447-451
- 23. The Point of the Story
- pp. 452-458
- Incorporating Population Data
- pp. 459-462
- 24. The Ainu and Jōmon Connection
- pp. 463-471
- 26. Two- Dimensional Geometric Morphometrics
- pp. 492-502
- 28. Identity Through Science and Art
- pp. 519-534
- Learning from Early Holocene Contemporaries
- Anticipating Kennewick Man's Future
- 31. Storage and Care at the Burke Museum
- pp. 607-621
- 32. Who Was Kennewick Man?
- pp. 622-650
- Acknowledgments
- pp. 651-656