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Maria Pearson, who remained an active and vocal
campaigner for Indian rights and the protection of
indigenous burial remains until her death in 2003,
worked with other American Indian organizations
to press for a federal repatriation law. The result was
NAGPRA adopted in 1990. She also helped draft
the World Archaeological Congress 1989 Vermillion
Accord, a document promoting mutual respect be-
tween archaeologists and indigenous peoples. Often
referred to as the “Founding Mother of the modern
Indian repatriation movement,” and “the Rosa Parks
of NAGPRA,” her efforts embodied the concept
that “while we cannot remake the past, we can all
Maria Pearson.
of such remains also speaks to sacred places and Iowa’s current legal requirement to
cultural values, both past and present. Prior to the examine and report on all such mate-
passage of Iowa’s reburial laws, this kind of study rials before they are reburied consid-
rarely took place. A case in point is the Turin site, the erably increases our knowledge
earliest dated burials known in Iowa, accidentally about ancient peoples. In addition,
uncovered in the 1950s. Despite their significance the Loess Hills discoveries and the
for our understanding of the Middle Archaic, a poorly events which followed showed
known prehistoric period on the eastern Plains, and the country that American Indians
the nationwide media coverage this discovery precip- and archaeologists could collabo-
itated, the remains were not analyzed and the results rate in a respectful relationship to
not published until the 1980s. achieve common goals.
30 University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist
