logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2021
32m 14s

Skeletons In The Closet

NPR
About this episode
In a small suburb of Washington, D.C., a non-descript beige building houses thousands of Native human remains. The remains are currently in the possession of the Smithsonian Institution. But for the past decade, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been fighting to get some of them back to Florida to be buried. The controversy over who should decide the fate of these remains has raised questions about identity, history, and the nature of archaeology.

To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Today
Being an “ally” is kind of cringe. Why?
People have been talking about being "allies" for a long time now. But what has that actually meant, over the years? And how performative should allyship be? One of our guests says, keep it to yourself. The other says, be loud and proud. So that's what we're getting into today wi ... Show More
28m 43s
Mar 25
Markwayne Mullin is conservative, Christian, Cherokee, and the new head of DHS
On Monday, Sen. Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as the newest head of the Department of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem. It's an enormously consequential role that involves taking charge of ICE, border patrol, and TSA. And Mullin is an interesting choice for the role — he ... Show More
35m 16s
Mar 21
What Trump's language has in common with cult language
When President Trump says things like “fake news,” “witch hunt” or even “Make America Great Again,” he’s not just using catchy phrases -- he’s persuading people into a way of thinking and believing. This week on Code Switch, we talk to Amanda Montell, author of Cultish and co-hos ... Show More
16m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Descendants of Cahokia
How did people create Cahokia, an ancient American Indian metropolis near present-day St. Louis? And why did they abandon it? Archaeologists are piecing together the answers—but Cahokia’s story isn’t finished yet. Hear how an Osage anthropologist is protecting the remaining buria ... Show More
29m 37s
Oct 2022
Spooked at the Smithsonian
<p>The Smithsonian Institution was founded on principles of reason and scientific inquiry. So why is the museum home to countless tales of unexplained phenomena and —dare we say — ghost sightings? Inspired by an apparition at the National Museum of American History, we creak acro ... Show More
37m 20s
Mar 2021
Introducing 'Tulsa's Buried Truth'
<p>There's a secret that's been buried under a century of silence. It lies in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a once-unknown massacre took place on American soil.</p> <p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href= "https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a></p> 
2m 47s
Oct 2023
Resurrected: Spooked at the Smithsonian
<p>The Smithsonian Institution was founded on principles of reason and scientific inquiry. So why is the Smithsonian home to countless tales of unexplained phenomena and—dare we say—ghost sightings? Inspired by an apparition at the National Museum of American History, we creak ac ... Show More
37m 54s
Jan 2023
Unearthed! Year-end 2022, Part 1
tail spinning
41m 49s
Jan 2023
Unearthed! Year-end 2022, Part 2
<p>Part two of our Unearthed! wrap up of 2022 covers a potpourri of stuff that didn’t go together, books and letters, edibles and potables, and apparel, including more than one pair of blue jeans.</p> <p><strong>Research:</strong></p> <ul> <li>“Chemical clues to the mystery of wh ... Show More
38m 52s
Nov 2022
Unearthed! Autumn 2022, Part 2
<p>The second part of our autumn list of things that were unearthed in the recent past includes potpourri, repatriations, shipwrecks, medical finds, Viking items, and books and letters.</p> <p><strong>Research: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Abbott, Dennis. “Archaeologists unearth skelet ... Show More
41m 18s
Oct 2023
Unearthed! in Autumn 2023, Part 1
<p>In part one of our Autumn 2023 edition of Unearthed!, we have some oldest things, books and letters, projects specifically related to gender, edibles and potables, and animals. </p> <p><strong>Research: </strong></p> <ul> <li>“Early humans deliberately made mysterious stone 's ... Show More
40m 58s
Apr 2023
Unearthed! in Spring 2023, Part 2
<p>To wrap up Unearthed! for spring 2023, we've got potpourri, jewelry and adornments, edibles and potables, mistaken identity stories, repatriations, and the always popular shipwrecks.</p> <p>Research:</p> <ul> <li>Agence France-Presse. “New Easter Island moai statue discovered ... Show More
42m 13s