[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46663-46664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22495]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service


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

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 control of the Alaska State Office, 
Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage, AK. These human remains and 
associated funerary objects are currently in the possession of the 
University of Alaska Museum.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by Bureau of Land Management professional staff and 
University of Alaska Museum professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Native Village of Gambell.
    Between 1972-1973, human remains representing 53 individuals were 
recovered by Hans-Georg Bandi during legally authorized excavations 
near Sekloghyaget (or ``Old Gambell'') site, a nineteenth century 
habitation section of Gambell, AK, the Troutman Lake site, a 19th 
century grave site near Gambell, AK, and a 19th century habitation site 
near modern Gambell, AK. No known individuals were identified. The 142 
associated funerary objects include abraders, a blubber scraper, 
buttons, foreshafts, ground slate tools, a ground slate point, faunal 
remains, walrus tusks and tusk fragments, chert flakes, pottery sherds, 
unworked stone, and a winged object.
    The three sites listed above have been identified as 19th century 
habitation and cemetery areas at or near the Native Village of Gambell 
through historical documentation, cultural items found at the sites, 
and oral history.
    In 1939, human remains representing four individuals were recovered 
by Louis Giddings at the Ayveghyaget site, a precontact habitation site 
near Gambell, AK. No known individuals were identified. Between 1972-
1973, human remains representing three individuals were recovered by 
Hans-Georg Bandi during legally authorized excavations from the 
vicinity of the Ayveghyaget site. No known individuals were identified. 
Three associated funerary objects recovered include ground slate, 
worked ivory and faunal remains.
    In 1939, human remains representing three individuals were 
recovered by Louis Giddings from the Kitngipalak site, a precontact 
habitation site near Gambell, AK. No known individuals were identified. 
Between 1972-1973, human remains representing 133 individuals were 
recovered by Hans-Georg Bandi during legally unauthorized excavations 
from the Kitngipalak site. No known individuals were identified. The 
328 associated funerary objects include ground slate tools, chert 
flakes, worked ivory, faunal remains, a whetstone, abraders and ulu 
blades.
    In 1967, human remains representing 24 individuals were recovered 
by Hans-Georg Bandi during legally authorized excavations from the 
vicinity of the Ayveghyaget and Mayaghaaq sites, precontact habitation 
sites near Gambell, AK. No known individuals were identified. The two 
associated funerary objects are faunal remains.
    In 1968, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from the Pagughileq site, a precontact habitation site on BLM land, and 
donated to the University of Alaska Museum by a State of Alaska 
employee in 1985. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Between 1972-1973, human remains representing 36 individuals were 
recovered by Hans-Georg Bandi during legally authorized excavations 
from the vicinity of the Mayaghaaq site, a precontact habitation site 
near Gambell, AK. No known individuals were identified. The 57 
associated funerary objects include ivory harpoon heads, faunal 
remains, ground slate fragments, ulu blades, and ivory fragments.
    Between 1972-1973, human remains representing seventeen individuals 
were recovered by Hans-Georg Bandi during legally authorized 
excavations from the Dovlaqhyaget site, a precontact habitation site 
near Gambell, AK. No known individuals were identified. The 24 
associated funerary objects include worked bone and ivory, faunal 
remains, ground slate points and a winged object.
    In 1950, human remains representing eighteen individuals were 
donated to the University of Alaska Museum by a private individual 
after being illegally removed from BLM lands in the vicinity of 
Gambell, AK. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1962, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
from BLM lands during legally authorized excavations in the vicinity of 
Gambell, AK by Otto Geist. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The precontact sites and sites in the vicinity of Gambell, AK 
listed above have been identified as occupied during the Okvik, Old 
Bering Sea, and Punuk periods based on site organization, habitation 
structures, cultural material, and Carbon0914 assays. The Carbon0914 
assays and ethnohistorical data indicate these occupations represent a 
continuity of cultural occupation of St. Lawrence Island from 
approximately 300 AD to the historically documented epidemic and famine 
of 1879 AD. The associated funerary objects from the ten sites located 
at or near Gambell are

[[Page 46664]]

stylistically and functionally consistent with the Gambell cultural 
development sequence. Additionally, the present-day Native residents of 
Gambell are the documented descendants of the survivors of the 1879 
epidemic and famine. Oral history evidence provided by representatives 
of the Native Village of Gambell indicates on-going recognition of the 
above Gambell grave sites as traditional burial grounds.
    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 294 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 556 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 Gambell.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Native Village of 
Gambell. 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 [thirty 
days after publication in the Federal Register]. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Native Village of 
Gambell may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
Dated: August 29, 1996.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-22495 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]
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