The remains of a prehistoric man are discovered near Kennewick, Washington. Such remains will be known as the Kennewick Man.

Kennewick Man, also known as the Ancient One, is the name given to the skeletal remains of a prehistoric man found on the banks of the Columbia River near Kennewick, Washington, in 1996. The remains are significant because they date back approximately 8,500 to 9,000 years, making Kennewick Man one of the oldest and most complete human skeletons found in North America.

Discovery: The remains were discovered by two college students, Will Thomas and David Deacy, who were attending the annual hydroplane races on the Columbia River. The discovery was made in July 1996.

Scientific Study: The remains sparked a lengthy legal and scientific debate over their origins and the right to study them. Initial studies indicated that the skeletal features did not closely resemble modern Native American populations, leading to various hypotheses about the migration and ancestry of early humans in North America.

Legal Battle: The remains became the subject of a major legal battle between scientists, who wanted to study the bones, and Native American tribes, who claimed the remains as an ancestor under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The case went through several court rulings over the years.

Repatriation: In 2016, after extensive DNA analysis, it was determined that Kennewick Man was more closely related to modern Native American tribes, particularly those in the Pacific Northwest. As a result, the remains were repatriated and reburied by a coalition of Native American tribes in February 2017.

Scientific Findings: The study of Kennewick Man provided valuable insights into the health, diet, and lifestyle of early inhabitants of North America. Analysis of the bones revealed information about his diet, injuries, and general health, as well as clues about the environment in which he lived.