On the Treatment and Reburial of Human Remains: The San Xavier Bridge Project, Tucson, Arizona

Abstract

N ATIVE AMERICANS IN ARIZONA, and throughout the nation, have become increasingly vocal in expressing concerns over the archaeological excavation, treatment, and curation of skeletal remains and have supported legislation that would require reburial rather than curation. The question of reburial of human remains has been and continues to be a controversial one among archaeologists, physical anthropologists, museum curators, federal and state agencies, and Native Americans (Anderson et al. 1978; Anderson 1985; Gumerman 1987; Hammil 1987; Quick 1985; Rosen 1980; Thompson 1986; Turner 1986). Arguments for and against reburial have focused on religious, political, and scientific grounds (Quick 1985). It is clear that a resolution of this controversy will require communication and compromise on the part of both Native Americans and archaeologists. The Arizona State Museum has been involved in discussions with several Arizona Indian Tribes concerning the return of skeletal remains recovered during projects conducted by the Museum's Cultural Resource Management Division. The San Xavier Bridge Project (Ravesloot 1987), located on the Tohono O'Odham Nation (formerly known as the Papago Tribe) lands, has been the subject of controversy between archaeologists and Native Americans since its inception in 1984, because the location had been used in prehistoric times as a burial ground. Controversy centered on the procedures to be followed with regard to the removal, analysis, and curation of burials as well as the repatriation of burials recovered from the site during previous excavations. After considerable discussion and deliberation on the part of both the ArizonA State Museum and the Tohono O'Odham Nation, a mutually satisfactory agreement concerning excavation and analysis was reached that allowed archaeological excavations to be conducted in 1985. This agreement placed some restrictions on analytical procedures and left the decision on the final disposition of the human remains to officials of the San Xavier District, a medicine woman, and the tribal chairman. The San Xavier Bridge Site burials and associated grave goods were ultimately reburied by the Tohono O'Odham Nation in September 1986.