Chapter 19: NAGPRA Cave Repatriation
Spoiler Warning: This page provides a detailed summary and analysis of Chapter 19 of Douglas Preston’s Dead Mountain. If you haven’t read this far, consider reading the chapter first.
Summary
Nora Kelly, her brother Skip, Stan Morrison, and Darren Tenorio arrive at the cave turnout simultaneously with a Torrance County sheriff’s vehicle. Deputy Baca is already at the site, and Nora hopes to handle him calmly. Tenorio presents Baca with a letter of authorization from the governor of Isleta Pueblo, invoking the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) to recover ancestral remains. Baca reads the letter uneasily and tries to stall, insisting that Sheriff Hawley must approve. Tenorio, however, declares they are on a tight schedule and begins the exhumation.
Ignoring Baca’s shouted orders to stop, the team climbs into the cave. Tenorio performs a prayer ceremony with pollen and sage, then the group excavates the two shallow graves. They uncover two skeletons in the traditional flexed burial position, along with a micaceous pottery vessel, fragments of blankets, yucca sandals, and leather scraps. The work proceeds quickly and carefully, with Skip setting up screens to sift sand for every last bone fragment. Tensions simmer as Skip vents about law enforcement interference, but Nora keeps him reined in. Tenorio pushes to finish before the sheriff arrives. They split into teams—Nora and Skip carry the first body bag down the trail, while Tenorio and Stan pack the second set of remains—hoping to leave before an inevitable confrontation.
Key Events
- Tenorio hands Deputy Baca the Isleta Pueblo governor’s NAGPRA letter, asserting legal authority over the ancestral remains.
- Baca attempts to halt the work, claiming the sheriff hasn’t authorized it; Tenorio dismisses him.
- Skip’s angry outburst about stolen land is quickly checked by Nora, underscoring the need for a low-key operation.
- The two burials are fully exhumed: flexed skeletons, a micaceous pot, and associated organic artifacts.
- The team screens all excavated sand to recover minute bone fragments.
- Tenorio and Stan finish packing the second body while Nora and Skip rush the first remains toward the van to avoid the sheriff.
Character Development
Nora Kelly demonstrates steely resolve and strategic thinking. She enlists her brother but gives him strict orders to stay calm, then manages the delicate exhumation under pressure while keeping Skip’s temper in check.
Skip Kelly reveals his hot-headed nature and anti-colonial sentiments, promising to be “meek and mild” like Mister Rogers but quickly reverting to anger when authority is challenged. He channels his energy into efficient technical work.
Darren Tenorio emerges as a composed, authoritative cultural broker. His use of prayer and NAGPRA law frames the recovery as both spiritual obligation and legal right. He refuses to negotiate, cutting off Baca’s protests.
Deputy Baca is caught between duty and fear—reluctant to defy the sheriff but clearly intimidated by the group’s legal standing and conviction. His ineffectual radio calls heighten the sense of an impending showdown.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Cultural Sovereignty vs. Local Authority: The chapter pits Isleta Pueblo’s NAGPRA rights squarely against the county sheriff’s jurisdiction. Tenorio’s unwavering stance highlights the historical theft of land and remains, while the physical exhumation becomes an act of reclamation.
The Weight of Ancestral Remains: The careful, reverent handling of the skeletons, the pollen offerings, and the sage smoke emphasize the sacredness of the dead and the moral imperative to protect them from scientific or legal exploitation.
Impending Confrontation: Baca’s repeated warnings and the radio calls to the sheriff create a ticking-clock tension. The hasty split of the team and the rush to the van transform the cave into a contested space.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is the operational turning point for the recovery plot line. After chapters of bureaucratic maneuvering and ethical debate, the NAGPRA card is actually played in the field, forcing a direct clash with local law enforcement. It demonstrates that the team can carry out a retrieval despite obstruction, but it also raises the stakes enormously: Sheriff Hawley’s imminent arrival promises a physical confrontation. The successful exhumation, while triumphant, is shadowed by Skip’s volatility and the lingering question of how far the sheriff will go to stop them. The reunion of the ancient pot with the remains underscores the personal cost—Nora’s sorrow at losing a beautiful artifact to reburial—that makes the mission morally complex.
Study Questions and Answers
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How does Tenorio’s handling of Deputy Baca illustrate the novel’s treatment of Native American agency?
Tenorio does not plead or persuade; he simply presents the NAGPRA letter as a legal fact and proceeds. His refusal to wait for the sheriff asserts that sovereign rights are not subject to a county official’s permission. This mirrors the broader theme of reclaiming stolen history on tribal terms. -
Why does Nora bring Skip despite acknowledging his short temper, and what does this reveal about her leadership?
Nora needs trusted, physically capable help that won’t involve her official team or draw more government scrutiny. She takes a calculated risk with Skip, outlining clear behavioral rules to minimize trouble. This shows her willingness to use unorthodox resources and her ability to direct strong personalities toward a shared goal, even if she must micromanage their emotions. -
In what ways does Preston create suspense during a largely technical exhumation scene?
The suspense lies not in the excavation itself but in the auditory backdrop: Baca’s yelling from below, his crackling radio reports to the sheriff, and the countdown to Sheriff Hawley’s arrival. The team’s rushed pace, the division of labor at the end, and Skip’s barely contained anger all keep the reader braced for an explosion that never quite occurs in this chapter.