Department of Parks
Author to Discuss Federal Law and American Indian Burials in Lecture at Wickliffe Mounds

WICKLIFFE, Ky. – Legal issues affecting archaeologists and Native American burial sites will be the subject of a lecture and book signing at Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site on Saturday June 28, 2008.

Morley Swingle, a local author and prosecuting attorney of Cape Girardeau County, Mo., will deliver the lecture starting at 10 a.m. Swingle penned the recently published book, Bootheel Man, and the lecture topic will be “Researching Bootheel Man: Federal Law, American Indians and Archaeologists.”

In his lecture, Swingle will talk about the continuing legal issues between American Indians and archaeologists over excavating prehistoric burial sites in light of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).  He will also describe how his own feelings about the issues changed as a result of his extensive research.

Prominent scholars on both sides of the repatriation issue have praised Bootheel Man for its nuanced understanding of contemporary reburial and repatriation issues. 

The event is free to the public and admission to the museum is $5.  Copies of the book will be available for sale and the author will be pleased to sign them. For more information, please call Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site at 270-335-3681.

Wickliffe Mounds is the archaeological site of a Native American village of the Mississippian culture dating back to 1100 A.D.  Located in the Wickliffe community in Ballard County Kentucky on U.S. Highway 51/60/62, the site has a museum, welcome center, gift shop and picnic areas.  Please visit our website at www.parks.ky.gov or call 270-335-3681 for more information.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov.