SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Four Indian tribes may appeal a ruling by a U.S. Court of Appeals saying they didn't show a link to Kennewick Man sufficient to block research on the remains.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco decided Wednesday that four Northwest tribes seeking to rebury the remains of the skeleton, found in 1996 near Kennewick, Wash., had not proven a link to their tribes, the Oregonian reported.
Tribes are required by law to show affiliation with unidentified remains before they can be obtained.
Eight anthropologists already have a study plan in place for what is considered one of the oldest, most complete skeletons in North America.
Possible actions for the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Colville and Yakama tribes include appealing the case again before a larger panel of judges or bringing the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
