[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7119-7120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4198]



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[[Page 7120]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Funerary Objects in the Possession of Big Cypress National 
Preserve, National Park Service, Ochopee, FL

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d), of 
the completion of an inventory of human remains and funerary objects in 
the possession of Big Cypress National Preserve, National Park Service, 
Ochopee, FL.
    The human remains and funerary objects were collected from seven 
sites by National Park Service archeologists in 1977. A detailed 
inventory and assessment of the human remains and funerary objects has 
been made by the staff of Big Cypress National Preserve and 
representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and the Seminole 
Tribe of Florida. No known individuals were identified.
    Twenty-seven human cranial bone fragments representing the remains 
of at least one individual were surface collected from a site near U.S. 
Highway 41 in Collier County. Also collected from the vicinity of the 
grave were one lead fragment, one iron container, and one safety pin. 
The site was identified as a historic period grave dating to the early 
20th Century. The name of the site is being withheld at the request of 
the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians.
    Eleven human cranial bone fragments representing at least two 
individuals were surface collected from the Seminole Camp site. In 
addition to the bone fragments, one side plate from a percussion rifle, 
one bullet, fourteen plastic buttons, one bone pin, one iron nail, one 
brass barrel hoop, one brass boot buckle, one iron fragment, and 434 
glass beads were collected from the vicinity of the grave. This site 
was identified as a grave dating to the late 19th or early 20th 
Century.
    One iron nail, three iron fragments, and 4,565 glass beads were 
collected from a back country site in Monroe County. Several human bone 
fragments and a casket bier were noted by the archeologists 
investigating the site but were not collected. The site was identified 
as a historic period (early 20th Century) grave site. The name of the 
site is being withheld at the request of the Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians.
    Three glass beads and one piece of whiteware ceramic were collected 
from the vicinity of the grave at a site north of East Slough. Human 
remains were observed by the archeologists but not collected. This site 
was identified as a historic period grave dating between 1920 and 1930. 
The name of the site is being withheld at the request of the Miccosukee 
Tribe of Indians.
    A china doll and two glass beads were collected from the vicinity 
of a grave at the Doll Site. No human remains were observed by the 
archeologists, but subsequent consultation with representatives of the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians identify the site as the location of a 
burial dating to the early 20th Century.
    One iron nail, one metal pan, one stoneware jug fragment, a Dietz 
glass kerosene lantern vase, one brass kettle base modified to use as a 
dish, one animal bone, and one piece of Busycon shell were collected 
from the vicinity of a grave at the Dietz Site. Human remains were 
observed by the archeologists but not collected. This site was 
identified as a historic period grave dating to the late 19th or early 
20th Century.
    The six sites listed above are located within the territory 
historically occupied by the Miccosukee and have been identified as 
earlier occupation areas by representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians. No lineal descendants have been identified by representatives 
of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians.
    Three cranial fragments and over one hundred other skeletal 
fragments representing at least one individual were collected at Turner 
River #5, a burial island site. One fragment of glazed earthenware was 
recovered with the human remains. Based on the state of preservation 
and the type of objects collected, this burial has been dated sometime 
before A.D. 1860. Representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians 
have identified the area around Turner River #5 as being occupied by 
the Seminole at the time the site was in use. In addition, possible 
lineal descendants may exist among the unaffiliated, independent 
Seminole and Miccosukee people who currently reside in the area. Good 
faith efforts to consult with representatives of the Seminole Tribe of 
Florida have been unsuccessful.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Big 
Cypress National Preserve have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of at least four individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
the Big Cypress National Preserve have also determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C 3001(3)(A) and (B), the 5,042 objects listed above are 
reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human 
remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or 
ceremony. Lastly, officials of the Big Cypress National Preserve 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 the human remains and funerary objects from the first six sites 
and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians. Officials of the Big Cypress 
National Preserve have determined that there is a relationship of 
shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between the human 
remains and the funerary object from Turner River #5 and the Seminole 
Tribe of Florida.
    This notice is being sent to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and 
the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human 
remains and funerary objects should contact Wallace Hibbard, 
Superintendent, Big Cypress National Preserve, HCR 61, Box 110, 
Ochopee, FL 33943, telephone: (813) 695-2000, before March 27, 1996. 
Repatriation of the human remains and funerary objects to the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and the Seminole Tribe of Florida may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: February 16, 1996
C. Timothy McKeown,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Archeology and Ethnography 
Program.
[FR Doc. 96-4198 Filed 2-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F