Archaeology, Entitlement, and Indigenous Bodies

The history of archaeology is shadowed by genocide, dispossession, and appropriation. However, many archaeologists have worked hard to begin decolonization and challenge the colonial ideas the field is grounded in. These ideas are based in the history of the colonization of Indigenous Americans which was maintained in early US legislation; however, more recent legislation has challenged these ideas due to the work of Native activists and archaeologists' changing perceptions. This thesis dissects the arguments for continued access to Ancestors of three authors, Holm (2011), McGhee (2008), and Weiss (2021). I highlight two case studies, the Ancient One and the Chaco Canyon Ancestors, to demonstrate how these attitudes of entitlement and colonial ideas are seen in the field. Through the tenets of decolonial archaeology, which include methods such as increased rates of repatriation, community-based research, and enhanced aDNA ethics, archaeologists can challenge claims of entitlement to Native bodies and continue the decolonization of the field.