[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 41412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20321]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Remains and 
Associated Funerary Objects from Kiana, 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 from Kiana, AK in the control of the Alaska 
State Office, Bureau of Land Management.
    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 Kiana.
    During 1941, human remains representing one individual was 
recovered from a burial at the Ekseavik site in the vicinity of Kiana, 
AK by J. Louis Giddings under unclear circumstances. The remains were 
subsequently accessioned to the University Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska. 
No known individual was identified. The 130 associated funerary objects 
recovered include a sandstone lamp, 123 glass trade beads, 4 metal 
bracelets, a large metal ulu blade, with shaped bone handle, and a 
pyrite nodule, worn smooth on one face.
    During 1947, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered from the Kavet Creek site in the vicinity of Kiana, AK by J. 
Louis Giddings under unclear circumstances. The remains were 
subsequently accessioned to the University Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska. 
No known individuals were identified. The 106 associated funerary 
objects recovered include a broken coal labret, a polished elliptical 
jade blade, a jade adze head, a jade ulu blade, an antler arrowhead and 
net sinker, a chert arrowhead, several sandstone saw and whetstone 
pieces, and various stone ulu, adze head, chisel, and other worked 
stone fragments.
    The geographic locations of the two sets of remains and associated 
funerary objects listed above indicate that they are most probably 
associated with residents of the Native Village of Kiana. The remains 
from 1941 are undated but the presence of glass trade beads suggests 
they are from the 18th or 19th century. The remains from 1947, while 
undated, were thought by the excavator to date perhaps back to the 17th 
century. This would be a time when the ancestors of people now living 
in Kiana were in this area. Native Elders of Kiana recognize the areas 
where the human remains were recovered as traditionally associated with 
their village. They also report that the burial practices associated 
with the Kavet Creek remains involve the burning of a house which is 
consistent with practices performed in the region, including at Kiana, 
into the.20th century.
    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 two 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 236 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 also 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 the Native Village of Kiana.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Native Village of 
Kiana. 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, #13, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7599; telephone (907) 271-5510, before 
September 2, 1997. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Native Village of Kiana may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: July 25, 1997.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-20321 Filed 7-31-; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F