The temptation to make the story larger, more complete, more emotionally satisfying than the evidence supports is real and understandable.

Resisting that temptation, and allowing the evidence to speak for itself within its own limits, produces a picture that is ultimately more truthful and more valuable than any elaboration could be.

The Collections That Hold More Secrets

The Trail Creek tooth is one example of a broader phenomenon that has become increasingly important as ancient-DNA analysis and other modern techniques have matured: the scientific revaluation of old collections.

Archaeological collections from the twentieth century and earlier hold an enormous potential reservoir of scientific information that was, at the time of collection, simply not extractable with available methods.