Ancestral Pueblo Remains Will Be Sent Back to Mesa Verde
Ancestral Pueblo remains removed over a century ago will return to their rightful place, Mesa Verde National Park. The remains are currently in Finland.
A Swedish researcher removed remains and other items from what is now Mesa Verde National Park. This was over a century ago. Those objects become a part of an exhibit at the National Museum of Finland, according to the Durango Herald.
In 2016, the 26 tribes associated with Mesa Verde National Park worked with the Department of state and the Department of Interior to identify the remains they wanted to get back from Finland, according to the Durango Herald.
The sanctity and important of these remains and artifacts were recognized and will be sent back soon. Mesa Verde used to be home to the ancestral Pueblo people for over 700 years, according to the Durango Herald.
Along with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, there are 26 federally recognized Native American tribes associated with Mesa Verde.
According to Tara Katuk Sweeny, the assistant secretary of Indian Affairs:
The agreement recognizes the importance of treating these individuals and their descendants, who will be welcoming them home, with dignity. It also reaffirms how important it is that Native American remains be treated with care and respect.
The Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906. Mesa Verde protects almost 5,000 archeological sites across over 40 miles, including 600 cliff dwellings, according to the National Park Service. These are some of the most notable and best preserved in the entire nation.