[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 7276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4318]



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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 United States 
Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, Tulsa, OK

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 (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 
3003(d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects in the possession of the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Tulsa District, Tulsa, OK.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects has been made by Tulsa District 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Caddo 
Tribe of Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.
    In May and June, 1977, the Mahaffey Site (34CH1) at Hugo Lake, 
Choctaw County, OK was excavated under COE contract number DACW56-77-C-
0129 due to the immediate threat of shoreline erosion exposing the 
site. Cultural items from this site were curated at the Museum of the 
Red River, OK, and the human remains were curated at the University of 
Arkansas. In 1995, the Army Corps of Engineers reunited the human 
remains and associated funerary objects at the Tulsa Repatriation 
Facility.
    The human remains from Mahaffey Site (34CH1) consist of a minimum 
of 62 individuals. No known individuals were identified. A total of 
1,1787 objects are associated with these individuals, including stone 
(flakes, tools, implements, and ornaments), ceramic vessels, clay 
pipes, and animal bone tools.
    The Mahaffey Site dates to 500 BC to 1450 AD, based on cultural 
items found with human remains. The ceramics indicate cultural 
continuity through this time period, and are consistent later Caddoan 
ceramics. Consultation evidence presented by representatives of the 
Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes indicates 
this was a Caddoan cemetery area during this period.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District have determined, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of at least 62 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have also determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(A) and (B), the 1,787 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 U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers 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 associated funerary objects and 
the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Caddo Tribe of 
Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes of Oklahoma. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Mr. Robert W. Jobson, NAGPRA Coordinator, 
Planning Division, USACE, Tulsa District, P.O. Box 61, Tulsa, OK 74121-
0061, phone (918) 669-7193 before March 28, 1996. Repatriation may 
begin after this date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: February 21, 1996
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-4318 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F