[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 169 (Thursday, August 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45455-45456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22115]


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


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects from Savoonga, AK in the Control of the 
Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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

    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 control of the Alaska State Office, 
Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage, AK.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Bureau 
of Land Management professional staff and University of Alaska Museum 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Native 
Village of Savoonga.
    Between 1931-1958, human remains representing 79 individuals were 
recovered from the Kukulik mounds by Otto Geist, Froelich Rainey, 
Wendell Oswalt, Ivar Skarland, and Albert Morton. No known individuals 
were identified. In 1934, a total of 2,190 associated funerary objects 
were recovered from the same burial sites, including; stone, bone, 
wood, iron, and ivory tools; walrus tooth and tusks; seal skull 
fragment; clay pottery sherds; bone armor plate fragments; walrus hide 
rope; baleen pieces; wooden bowls; bone spoons and meat forks; wooden 
effigy figures; and can, bottle, and window glass fragments.
    Between 1931-1933, human remains representing four individuals were 
recovered from the Savoonga Village area or the Kukulik site by Otto 
Geist. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects were present.
    The Kukulik sites have been identified as burial sites of the 1879 
epidemic and famine based on oral history, manner of internment, types 
of associated funerary objects, and historical documents. Oral history 
presented by Savoonga representatives indicates traditional knowledge 
of these burial sites and the direct descendency of the present-day 
Native residents of Savoonga to the survivors of the 1879

[[Page 45456]]

epidemic and famine at Savoonga Village.
    In 1934 and 1948, human remains representing seven individuals were 
recovered from Punguuk Island by Otto Geist and Wendell Oswalt. No 
known individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object 
is a sample of unknown material.
    In 1974, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
by Zorro Bradley from the Kiyalighaq site. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects were present.
    The Punguuk Island and Kiyalighaq sites in the vicinity of 
Savoonga, AK listed above have been identified as occupied from 
approximately during the Okvik, Old Bering Sea, and Punuk periods based 
on site organization, habitation structures, and manner of internments. 
This ethnohistorical data indicate these occupations represent a 
continuity of cultural occupation of the Savoonga vicinity of St. 
Lawrence Island from approximately 300 AD to the historically 
documented epidemic and famine of 1879 AD. Oral tradition presented by 
representatives of the Native Village of Savoonga supports this 
evidence.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Bureau 
of Land Management have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of 92 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Bureau 
of Land Management have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001 (3)(A), the 2,191 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 Bureau of Land Management 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 Native American human remains 
and associated funerary objects and the Native Village of Savoonga.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Native Village of 
Savoonga. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and 
associated funerary objects should contact Dr. Robert E. King, Alaska 
State NAGPRA Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, 222 W. 7th Avenue, 
1B13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599; telephone: (907) 271-5510, before 
September 30, 1996. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Native Village of Savoonga may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: August 26, 1996.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeology & Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-22115 Filed 8-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F