Douglas W. Owsley

Douglas W. Owsley
Born (1951-07-21) July 21, 1951 (age 73)
Sheridan, Wyoming, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Wyoming
University of Tennessee
Known forstudy and analysis of Kennewick Man; plaintiff Bonnichsen, et al. v. United States, et al.; identification and analysis of American Airlines Flight 77 victims at the Pentagon and the siege on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas
SpouseSusan Owsley
AwardsCommander's Award for Civilian Service; Jefferson Award
Scientific career
FieldsForensic anthropology
InstitutionsSmithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History
Thesis Dermatoglyphic Variability and Asymmetry of Patients with Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate  (1978)
Doctoral advisorWilliam M. Bass
Other academic advisorsGeorge W. Gill
Richard Jantz
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Douglas W. Owsley (born July 21, 1951) is an American anthropologist who is head of Physical Anthropology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). He is regarded as one of the most prominent and influential archaeologists and forensic anthropologists in the world in some popular media.[1][2][3] In September 2001, he provided scientific analysis at the military mortuary located at Dover Air Force Base, following the 9/11 attack in Washington, D.C. The following year, the US Department of Defense honored him with the Commander's Award for Civilian Service for helping in the identification of 60 federal and civilian victims who died when American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.[4][5]

Owsley has consulted with individuals, organizations, and government agencies to excavate and reconstruct skeletal remains, identify the deceased, and determine the cause of death.[6] Notable cases include analysis and identification of Jeffrey Dahmer's first victim; excavation and study of the H. L. Hunley Confederate submarine in Charleston Harbor; excavation of the historic Jamestown Colony; analysis and identification of 82 victims of the siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas; processing and identification of US servicemen killed during Operation Desert Storm; and research, analysis, and identification of individuals buried in 17th-century iron coffins discovered in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland and an apartment complex in the Columbia Heights area of Washington, D.C.[7][8]

Owsley injected himself into the debate over claims of ownership over Kennewick Man a (Paleo-Indian), which he studied and concluded, erroneously, that its bones were not related to present-day Native Americans.[9][10][11][12] He has been involved in the excavation and identification of historic and prehistoric skeletal remains discovered around the world. As part of his work with the Smithsonian, he has overseen the forensic examination of over 13,000 skeletons and human remains originating from over an estimated 10,000 years.[13] The 1996 discovery of skeletal remains found in Kennewick, Washington, along the Columbia River, uncovered a prehistoric Paleo-Indian man dating back to a calibrated age of 9,800 years, while analysis on the Spirit Cave mummy, established an age of over 10,650 years.[7][14][15][16]

In 2003, Owsley's biography, No Bone Unturned: Inside the World of a Top Forensic Scientist and His Work on America's Most Notorious Crimes and Disasters, was published by HarperCollins, and this served as the basis of a Discovery Channel documentary, entitled Skeleton Clues, as well as an ABC News 20/20 segment entitled Murders, Mysteries, History Revealed in Bones.[17][18][19] He was also featured in the film Nightmare in Jamestown, produced by National Geographic.[3] In 2005, Owsley was honored alongside other influential figures in the list of "35 Who Made a Difference", published in the November issue of the Smithsonian Magazine.[7]

  1. ^ Butts, Ellen; Joyce Schwartz. "Doug Owsley: the real Indiana Jones[dead link]", Evening Standard, (London, England), 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  2. ^ "Society for California archeology: About CA archeology - Interview with Douglas Owsley, 2006". Scahome.org. 2006-03-13. Archived from the original on 2018-10-26. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  3. ^ a b "Chesapeake-Nightmare in Jamestown". National Geographic. 2005-11-20. Archived from the original on March 19, 2006. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  4. ^ "Forensic scientist to speak at CSC April 27 - starherald.com: Local News". starherald.com. 2011-04-18. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
  5. ^ "Douglas Owsley | Profiles of Notable Alumni | University of Wyoming". Uwyo.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2012-02-05.
  6. ^ Benedict 2003, pages 85–86
  7. ^ a b c "35 Who Made a Difference: Douglas Owsley | Science & Nature | Smithsonian Magazine". Smithsonianmag.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  8. ^ Benedict 2003, page ix
  9. ^ "What Ancient Bones Reveal". Andrewlawler.com. 2006-10-01. Retrieved 2012-02-27.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Special Report: A Battle Over Bones". archeology.org. 1996-10-10. Archived from the original on 2016-01-26. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  11. ^ "Reading the Bones | Science & Nature | Smithsonian Magazine". Smithsonianmag.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  12. ^ "Museum presents six Jefferson Awards". Martinsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  13. ^ Chris Wallace. "Power Player of the Week: Douglas Owsley" Fox News Sunday (Fox News Network). CQ-Roll Call, Inc. 2005. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  14. ^ Benedict 2003, page 86
  15. ^ Benedict 2003, page 102
  16. ^ "A chronicle of the battle over ancient Kennewick Man's bones - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2003-05-04. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  17. ^ "Murders, Mysteries, History Revealed in Bones - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  18. ^ "The Bone Detective - Hartford Courant". Articles.courant.com. 2003-06-22. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  19. ^ "National Museum of Natural History Annual Report 2003" (PDF). Smithsonian Institution. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-01-03. Retrieved 2012-03-14. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)