Science wins ancient bones battle

A US appeals court has given permission to scientists to study a 9,000-year-old skeleton - despite the objections of some American Indian tribes.

The bones were found by two teenagers near Kennewick, Washington, in 1996.

American Indians want to bury what they call the remains of a distant relative, but scientists say the unusual features of the skeleton need further study.

Appeal judges ruled it was impossible to establish a relationship between the Indian tribes and "Kennewick Man".

Judge Ronald M Gould wrote that, under the law, the remains could only be considered Native American if they "bear some relationship to presently existing tribe or people or culture".

Because "limited studies to date" could not establish that link, the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals gave the green light to the scientists.

We "affirm the judgment of the district court barring the transfer of the skeleton for immediate burial and instead permitting scientific study of the skeleton," the court wrote.

Department of the Interior scientists say "Kennewick Man" is unlike any known modern Indians, although they do not rule out a distant biological connection.

They hope further study on the bones will shed light on early North Americans.

"From the perspective of [the scientists] this skeleton is an irreplaceable source of information about early New World populations that warrants careful scientific inquiry to advance knowledge of distant times," wrote Judge Gould.

"I think it's the way forward," Dr Silvia Gonzalez, an expert in human origins at Liverpool John Moores University, UK, told BBC News Online.

"We have so many questions to answer about where the first Native Americans came from."

"It's so rare, so unique to have [this specimen]. But unfortunately, we have already lost some very precious materials that are irreplaceable."

The appeal court ruling backs a 2002 decision by a US magistrate that the remains should be studied.

Previous court rulings had favoured the Umatilla, Yakama, Colville and Nez Perce tribes.

"Kennewick Man" is housed at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle.