The federal government has destroyed evidence in the legal battle for the ancient bones of Kennewick Man, scientists charged Tuesday. Issues raised in Tuesday's document will become the backbone of oral arguments when the case finally reaches trial.
Federal lawyers have a month to respond.
The discovery site is now under 500 tons of rock and dirt - material the government said it dumped to control erosion only after a careful scientific survey and review of the site by proper agencies. But the fill effectively prevents more investigation that could teach decision-makers and researchers more about the bones, the scientists' complaint says. As expected, the scientists' documents allege the Corps and Department of the Interior agencies mishandled the case in other ways - from failing to preserve the bones' scientific integrity to being biased in favor of American Indian tribes from the beginning, topics that have long been part of the legal banter while the case was on hold. The tribes applauded the decision and asked scientists to drop their legal objections so the bones could be reburied without more study. But the scientists still want to investigate the bones and are pushing forward with a suit to overturn the government's decision.