Kennewick Man Is Shaking Up Quiet Tri-Cities No Bones About It, Tourism Types Say, He’s Become One Of The Wonders Of The World

King Tut he’s not.

But Kennewick Man, the name given to the ancient human skeleton that is this city’s biggest claim to fame, is luring an increasing number of journalists and tourists here.

Local officials believe interest could snowball.

“This is the kind of thing that has a heritage tourism draw,” said Tana Bader Inglima, director of tourism development for the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau.

“There are other areas where significant finds have been turned into major attractions. … Just look at Egypt and the people who tour the pyramids there.”

The bones were a hot topic of conversation at a tourism convention last week in Tacoma, Bader Inglima said.

“Wherever I go, people have heard about the bones and ask what is going on,” she said. “We are very interested in making sure (Kennewick Man) is something folks know was discovered here.”

So far, the curious have traveled to this south-central Washington city from Los Angeles, London, Korea and all over the Northwest. Most are journalists following the tantalizing track of the remains, thought to be 9,200 years old.

Kennewick Man’s bones were found in July 1996 in a park along the Columbia River.

Eight scientists are suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the right to study the remains, which they believe could reveal much about how people first came to North America. Early study of the bones found indications they had Caucasian features.

Representatives of mid-Columbia Indian tribes contend the bones were uncovered at an ancient burial ground and should be returned under a 1990 federal graves protection law.

The bones remain off-limits and stored in a vault while a federal judge tries to sort out what should be done with them.

Journalists who have come here to report on the bones are intrigued by questions about the the bones’ age and lineage.

“This is a clash between modern America and more traditional beliefs,” said Eve Kay, a London documentary show producer.

Kay toured the area last week in search of everything related to the Ancient One, as the bones are called by some American Indians.

“There is a fascination with where we come from,” she said, noting England is intrigued by questions of science and ethics. “It really grabs people’s attention.”

“It’s a strange story. It’s an amazing story,” added Sylvie Dauvillier, who came to work on a feature article for a Paris-based magazine called Point of View. “It could change the history of America.”

This spring, The Learning Channel plans to air a segment on Kennewick Man for a show called “The Hunt for Amazing Treasures.”

Danny Balber, production coordinator for Los Angeles-based Andrew Holt Productions, said his crews recently visited the Tri-Cities to get footage for their TV series.

“Our show is about people finding valuable things - anything that is worth any kind of value - old bones, sunken ships, collectibles,” Balber said.

“There is a good story behind (the bones) with all the controversy,” he added.

Bader Inglima is more interested in the historical aspect of the find and the potential to lure travelers to the Tri-Cities for a peek into the ancient past.

But for now, she’s content to follow the case and talk about it with people who ask.

“There are no plans to erect a museum down there right now,” she said. “But who’s to say?”