Wisconsin historians seek to return dug-up human remains for Indigenous burials

Read the full story in the Green Bay Press Gazette.

Wisconsin was once home to about 20,000 ancient burial mounds, but only about 4,000 remain because of development, farming, erosion or looting during the past 200 years.

Many of the artifacts and human bones looted from the graves have since found their way into museums in the state, including the Wisconsin Historical Society Museum in Madison, which also acquired artifacts through its own past excavations, donations or purchases.

Today, museum officials are working to return certain artifacts, especially human remains, to their respective tribal nations for reburial, in accordance with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.