By Washington correspondent Paul Reynolds

Tests on an ancient human skeleton discovered in the United States suggest it may shed new light on the origins of North America's earliest inhabitants.

Carbon dating results from three laboratories have shown the skeleton - known as Kennewick Man after the area where it was found - to be between about 9,300 and 9,500 years old.

This means that, under federal law, the remains will be classified as Native American.

But these findings will not end a controversy thrown up by the discovery of the bones in the shallows of the Colombia River in 1996.

Calls for DNA tests

American Indian tribes in the area have demanded that the remains be handed over to them for immediate burial, and this latest ruling strengthens their case in court proceedings currently under way.

The law was drawn up precisely to prevent casual treatment of ancient bones, but some say that it now inhibits science.

Anthopologists have suggested that the skeleton could be of someone who came from Asia, Polynesia or even Europe, and they want DNA testing to be carried out.

If such an origin were indicated, it would open up new ideas as to where America's original population came from.

A federal court has given the US Government until 24 March to decide if the scientists will get access to the remains.