Human Bones Found Behind Wanapum Dam

Human Bones Found Behind Wanapum Dam


There has been a second set of bones found behind the Wanapum Dam in central Washington State. Last month the dam had concerning damage come to light, currently that is still the issue.

Near VANTAGE, Wash. — Contractors are now on top of the Wanapum Dam near Vantage. They are drilling into a concrete pier next to a spillway, trying to figure out what caused a 65-foot-long crack in that pier. They are also trying to figure out how to fix it.Source- KiroTV

These remains were found by people exploring the area behind the dam. This is the second set of bones since the dam's repair process, likely as old as the first set unearthed.

After the first set of bones was found, Coroner Craig Morrison said they were different from modern people’s bones. He noted the shape and wear-pattern on the teeth, which he said, might indicate that the person who died was eating a completely different diet from modern humans.Source- Yakima Herald

While bones do churn up in such situations, the find is spiking questions of their history and concerns for the remains. In the conclusion so far, due to the observation of wear pattern and tooth shape, is said that these are not remains of modern humans.

This news will likely bring up the discussion, the site already becoming more and more popular, and conclusions linking the remains to such as the Clovis and Ainu people.

Similarly and in Namesake is the Kennewick man's remains which were found nearly 20 years ago on the banks of the Columbia River. They are named from the location of Kennewick, Washington, which is downriver from the Vantage, Wash. damn area. These remain under an ongoing study.

The first set of bones are male, the second, still unknown. As far as the rest of the information about the remains, and same as the first set of bones, these are expected to be released to the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation As of now there are patrols in the area, consisting miles of coverage, protecting the Wanapum Dam's dig site.

River guards and Native Americans are trying to educate ever-increasing numbers of gawkers and explorers that tampering with Native American or historical sites is against the law, and disrupting a gravesite is a felony.

For more, see this source.