ABSTRACT
Reburial and repatriation have been a thorn in the side of archaeology for over 15 years, pitting Native American against archaeologist, and archaeologist against archaeologist. This conflict revolves around one central issue: whether archaeology’s claim on human remains and items of cultural patrimony as scientific data outweighs Native American ones based on ancestry and cultural affiliation. This question has been answered, in part, with the passage of NAGPRA; legally, Native American claims to ancestral human remains outweigh those of archaeologists. Yet the passage of NAGPRA has not settled the controversy. Petitions for repatriation of human remains and grave-associated objects are resolved case-by-case, with each case offering opportunities for renewal of the controversy.
