[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48522-48523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23153]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the University of 
Nebraska State Museum, Anthropology Research Division, Lincoln, NE

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d), of the completion of an 
inventory for Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects from six sites in Nebraska currently in the possession of the 
University of Nebraska State Museum, Anthropology Research Division, 
Lincoln, NE.
    A detailed inventory and assessment has been made by members of the 
professional staff of the University of Nebraska State Museum, in 
consultation with representatives of the Northern Ponca Tribe of 
Nebraska and the Southern Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. Meetings with these 
tribal representatives have been held at the 

[[Page 48523]]
Nebraska State Museum on eight occasions during 1993-1995, in addition 
to many phone conversations during this period.
    During 1936-1938, the Nebraska State Archeological Survey conducted 
excavations of these six sites under the authority of the W.P.A. 
Official Project #165-81-8095, Work Project #3140. Under agreement with 
the W.P.A., the collections resulting from these excavations were 
accessioned by the University of Nebraska State Museum.
    Human remains from the Ponca Fort Site (Nanza), Knox County, NE 
consist of sixty-six individuals. No known individuals were identified. 
A total of 5,310 cultural items are associated with these burials 
including: Wood (bark fragments, scraper, shaft smoother, shaft 
straightener); copper (beads, bracelets, bells, buttons, coils, neck 
rings, projectile points, rings, sheets, and cones); glass (beads, 
button), pipestone (bannerstone, pipe fragments), bone (bison tools, 
pendent, hair pipe bead); stone (grinding slab, unknown artifact); iron 
(ax, bracelets, projectile points, fragments); lead (bracelet, coils); 
leather fragments; shell (unmodified, gorgets).
    The Ponca Fort Site's occupation by the Ponca Tribe is estimated as 
c. 1790-1800, based on associated cultural items and oral evidence of 
Ponca ethnohistoric informants in the 1930s (Wood 1965). The J.O. 
Dorsey ``Omaha Map'' (1884) indicated the presence of Ponca earthlodges 
on this site and Ponca ethnohistoric informant J. LaFleshe described 
``curvilinear entrenchments'' and ``many earth-lodges'' inside the fort 
(Dorsey 1884). Prince Maximilian in 1832 described a uninhabited Ponca 
fort at this location. Cultural items found with the burials (such as 
copper fragments and trade beads), osteological evidence (such as 
copper staining, marked anterior dental wear, fair to good 
preservation, and morphological changes related to horseback riding), 
and the ethnohistoric evidence are consistent with Ponca occupation of 
the site.
    Human remains from the Ponca Point Site (Ma-azi), Knox County, NE, 
consist of the remains of one infant. No known individuals were 
identified. Two associated funerary objects, consisting of one blue and 
one white glass bead, were found with this burial.
    In 1966, Ponca tribal historian Peter LeClaire identified the Ponca 
Point site as ``Ma-azi`` or ``the burying place on the top of the 
ridge'' used by the Ponca in the historic period. Osteological evidence 
of red staining on the arm and rib and the two historic beads 
associated with this burial, the assessment of the site as 
protohistoric/historic Ponca, and Ponca ethnohistoric informants are 
consistent with Ponca occupation of this site.
    Human remains from the Hogan Site, Knox County, NE consist of the 
remains of three individuals. No known individuals were identified. Two 
hundred eighty-one associated funerary objects include glass (beads), 
copper (button), and unidentified metal (pendant).
    Describing this site in the Report to the Chancellor (1937), Bell 
reports that the Hogan site ``has been used as a burial ground until 
very recent times by the Ponca.'' Osteological evidence of red 
staining, good preservation, morphological changes related to horseback 
riding, and the associated funerary objects are consistent with Ponca 
occupation of this site.
    Human remains from the Davis Site, Knox County, NE consist of the 
remains of nine individuals. No known individuals were identified. Two 
hundred and thirty-eight associated funerary objects include: Glass 
(beads, bottle); copper (bell, bracelets, buttons, bands, coils); iron 
(sheet, nails); pumice; wood (paper, post); tin (bowl, plate); textile 
(black cloth).
    Reference is made to the Ponca living in this area as early as 
Truteau in 1795, Mackay in 1797, Clark in 1804, and Prince Maximilian 
in 1832. Ponca tribal members working on the site during excavations in 
1937 identified these burials as Ponca. Osteological evidence of 
brachycephalic skulls, and associated cultural items are consistent 
with Ponca occupation of this site.
    Human remains from the Minaric II Site (25KX9), Knox County, NE, 
consist of the remains of six individuals. No known individuals were 
identified. Sixty-eight associated funerary objects include: bone 
(antler fragments, antler scraper); pipestone (fragments); glass 
(beads); ceramics (sherds); copper (cones); sandstone abrader; and 
shells.
    In 1938, Chief Birdhead identified the Minaric II Site as a Ponca 
village ``occupied by the lesser chiefs and the common people of the 
tribe.'' Chief Birdhead also said that his grandfather had lived in one 
of the houses on the bottom land. In 1966, Ponca tribal historian Peter 
LeClaire compiled a list of Ponca sites, and identified the Minaric II 
site as ``Farming Ground Village.'' Osteological evidence of copper 
staining, marked anterior dental wear, fair to good preservation, 
morphological changes related to horseback riding, and Ponca oral 
history are consistent with Ponca occupation of this site.
    Human remains from the Minaric III Site, Knox County, NE, consist 
of the remains of one individual. No known individual was identified. 
Twenty-eight associated funerary objects include: glass (beads); metal 
(ring, copper necklace band); lithic (projectile point).
    The archeological evidence of the Minaric III site, located between 
the Minaric II site and the Ponca Fort Site, indicates Ponca occupation 
during the historic period consistent with the surrounding Ponca sites. 
Osteological evidence of copper staining, marked anterior dental wear, 
good preservation, and the associated cultural items are consistent 
with Ponca occupation of this site.
    Based on the above-mentioned information from these six sites, 
officials of the Nebraska State Museum have determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identify 
which can be reasonably traced between these human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Northern Ponca Tribe of Nebraska 
and the Southern Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Northern Ponca Tribe 
of Nebraska and the Southern Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. Representatives 
of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally 
affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary objects 
should contact Dr. Thomas Myers, Curator of Anthropology, University of 
Nebraska State Museum, Systematics Collections W436 Nebraska Hall, 
Lincoln, NE 68588-0544, telephone (402) 472-5033 before October 19, 
1995. Repatriation of these human remains to the Northern Ponca Tribe 
of Nebraska and the Southern Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma may begin after 
this date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: September 13, 1995.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 95-23153; Filed 9-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F