But other scientists are not so sure, saying its not hard to imagine native people revering such an unusual and mysterious object. I think they deserve to get it back. And even legal experts on the repatriation law say the case raises new challenges for a law intended to help Native American tribes reclaim human remains and important cultural and religious items now held in the nation's museums. He said the case could chart new legal ground. Whether a natural object qualifies, not crafted and so on, for recovery under Nagpra may be a new field.
Scholars say meteorites have long been used by Native American religious leaders as sacred objects.
It's not unusual to find those in the possession of medicine men. The Grand Ronde also must prove they are connected historically to this object, he said. The tribes say they have testimony from a U.S. Supreme Court case and oral history from living tribal members. Museum officials declined to comment. In fact, just who owned the meteorite was the subject of a 1905 lawsuit that went to the Oregon Supreme Court.