The determination of cultural affiliation — which tribe has the strongest claim to particular remains — has sometimes been genuinely difficult and sometimes been made in ways that serving institutional convenience rather than the interests of the most closely connected communities.

The Geronimo case involves a private organization — Skull and Bones — that may or may not be covered by NAGPRA depending on whether it can be demonstrated to receive federal funding.

This ambiguity is itself part of why the federal lawsuit was complicated and ultimately unsuccessful.

The Archaeology Of Geronimo’s Grave

One approach to resolving the mystery that has been discussed but not definitively pursued is a careful archaeological examination of Geronimo’s actual grave at Fort Sill.

If the grave could be examined — using ground-penetrating radar or other non-invasive techniques — and if the examination confirmed that the grave is undisturbed and contains the complete remains of an adult male, that would provide significant evidence that the 1918 grave robbery, if it occurred at all, disturbed a different grave.