The Kennewick Man and Ancient DNA.

By
Maximilian O. Baldia

The human remains of Kennwick Man are rare evidence of the actual people that settled in America during the Paleo-Indian period (see The Chronology of North America.) They were found in July 1996, below the surface of a pool in the Columbia River named Lake Wallula. The McNary Dam in Kennewick created this pool. The water’s erosion force appears to have washed the skeleton out of its nearby soil strata.

Controversy developed regarding who was responsible for determining what would be done with the bones. A court case resulted in permission to analyze the human remains.

The National Park Service Links to the Past Web Site, in its series on the Kennewick Man, published a report to the Department of Justice and Dr. Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archaeologist of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. It deals with the potential for DNA testing of the human remains of Kennewick Man. The report by Noreen Tuross and Connie J. Kolman provides a survey of ancient DNA research, its potential and pitfalls. It contains a bibliography, several useful illustrations and tables. The following sections are of primary interest:

· Illustration of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and common types of analyses performed on human PCR products.

· Summary of mitochondrial DNA New World Haplogroups in humans worldwide.

· Radiocarbon dates of the human skeleton from Kennewick, WA.

The complete article is found on http://www.cr.nps.gov/aad/kennewick/tuross_kolman.htm. The result of the analysis is briefly summarized in The Kennewick Man DNA Update.

The Kennewick Man and Ancient DNA.

Related Links