The Tribe’s statement following the repatriation was direct and deeply felt.

It described the Spirit Cave Man as their Native American ancestor.

It described the more than two decades of legal battle to reclaim him as something that no family should have to endure.

And it acknowledged, with measured generosity, that Willerslev had been one of the rare outside researchers who had genuinely tried to understand their perspective.

“The Tribe has had a lot of experience with members of the scientific community, mostly negative,” the statement read.

“However, there are a handful of scientists that seemed to understand the Tribe’s perspective and Eske Willerslev was one of them.