[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 146 (Monday, August 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18388]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 1, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects from Hancock County, ME, in the Control 
of the National Park Service.

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior

ACTION:  Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d), of 
completion of the inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects from a site in Hancock County, ME, that are presently in the 
control of the National Park Service.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of these human remains has been 
made by National Park Service curatorial staff, contracted specialists 
in physical anthropology and prehistoric archeology, and 
representatives of the Penobscot Nation, Aroostook Band of Micmac, 
Houlton Band of Maliseet, and the Passamaquoddy Nation, identified 
collectively hereafter as the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine.
    The partial remains of at least seven individuals (including five 
adults, one subadult, and one child) were recovered in 1977 from a 
single grave at the Fernald Point Site (ME Site 43-24), a prehistoric 
shell midden on Mount Desert Island, within the boundary of Acadia 
National Park. A bone harpoon head, a modified beaver tooth, and 
several animal and fish bone fragments were found associated with the 
eight individuals. Radiocarbon assays indicate the burial site dates 
between 1035-1155 AD. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
have been catalogued as ACAD-5747, 5749, 5750, 5751, 5752, 5783, 5784. 
The partial remains of an eighth individual (an elderly male) was also 
recovered in 1977 from a second grave at the Fernald Point Site. No 
associated funerary objects were recovered with this individual. 
Radiocarbon assays indicate the second burial site dates between 480-
680 AD. The human remains have been catalogued as ACAD-5748. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects of all nine individuals are 
currently in the possession of the University of Maine, Orono, ME.
    Inventory of the human remains and associated funerary objects and 
review of the accompanying documentation indicates that no known 
individuals were identifiable. A representative of the Wabanaki Tribes 
of Maine has identified the Acadia National Park area as a historic 
gathering place for his people and stated his belief that there exists 
a relationship of shared group identity between these individuals and 
the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine. The Prehistoric Subcommittee of the Maine 
State Historic Preservation Office's Archaeological Advisory Committee 
has found it reasonable to trace a shared group identity from the Late 
Prehistoric Period (1000-1500 AD) inhabitants of Maine as an undivided 
whole to the four modern Indian tribes known collectively as the 
Wabanaki Tribes of Maine on the basis of geographic proximity; 
survivals of stone, ceramic and perishable material culture skills; and 
probable linguistic continuity across the Late Prehistoric/Contact 
Period boundary. In a 1979 article, Dr. David Sanger, the archeologist 
who conducted the 1977 excavations at the Fernald Point Site and 
uncovered the abovementioned burials, recognizes a relationship between 
Maine sites dating to the Ceramic Period (2,000 B.P. - 1600 A.D.) and 
present-day Algonkian speakers generally known as Abenakis, including 
the Micmac, Maleseet, Passamaquoddy, Penboscot, Kennebec, and Pennacook 
groups.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the National 
Park Service have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be 
reasonably traced between these human remains and associated funerary 
objects and the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Wabanaki Tribes of 
Maine. Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself 
to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should contact Len Bobinchock, Acting Superintendent, 
Acadia National Park, P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, telephone: 
(207) 288-0374, before August 31, 1994. Repatriation of these human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine 
may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: July 21, 1994
Francis P. McManamon, Ph.D.
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 94-18388 Filed 7-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F