[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 7 (Monday, January 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1873-1874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-661]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects from Maine in the Possession of the
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
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 from Maine in the possession of the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation
with representatives of the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians, the
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe, and
the Penobscot Indian Nation.
In 1919, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum by Arlo and Oric Bates. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Museum information indicates these human remains were collected by
the donors from a shellheap on State Island, Frenchman Bay, Gouldsboro,
ME. Other material culture recovered at this site indicates it has an
Etchemin occupation dating to the late precontact period (1350-1600
A.D.). Historical documents and continuities of Etchemin material
culture indicate the Etchemin groups in this particular area are an
ancestral culture to both the present day Penobscot Indian Nation and
the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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 the Penobscot Indian
Nation and the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe.
In 1878, human remains representing three individuals were
recovered from a shell heap at Oak Point, Great Deer Island, ME by
Manly Hardy during excavations conducted by a Peabody Museum
expedition. No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
Based on material culture, the Oak Point site has been identified
as having an Etchemin occupation dating to the late precontact period
(1050-1600 A.D.). Further, historical documents and continuities of
Etchemin material culture indicate that Etchemin groups are an
ancestral culture in this particular region to the present day
Penobscot Indian Nation.
In 1882, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum by James E. Knowlton. These remains are recorded in
museum records as having come from Tatman's or Taplan's [Tappan's]
Island on the Damariscotta River, ME and were collected by Fellows S.
Knowlton. No known individual was identified. The nine associated
funerary objects are ceramic sherds.
Based on the associated funerary objects, this site has been
identified as having an Etchemin occupation dating to the late
precontact period (1050-1600 A.D.). Further, historical documents and
continuities of Etchemin material culture indicate that Etchemin groups
are an ancestral culture in this particular region to the present day
Penobscot Indian Nation.
In 1885, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum by James E. Knowlton. These remains are recorded as
having come from a shell heap on
[[Page 1874]]
Friendship Long Island, ME and were collected by W.W. Knowlton. No
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Based on material culture, this Friendship Long Island site has
been identified as having an Etchemin occupation during the late
precontact period (1050-1600 A.D.). Historical documents and
continuities of Etchemin material culture in this particular region
indicate the Etchemin are an ancestral culture to the present day
Penobscot Indian Nation.
In 1886, human remains representing two individuals were recovered
from the Whaleback Shell Mound, Damariscotta, ME by Abram T. Gamage
during excavations conducted by a Peabody Museum expedition. No known
individuals were identified. The six associated funerary objects
consist of brass or copper beads.
Based on the associated funerary objects, these individuals have
been determined to be Native American from the early contact period
(post 1600 A.D.). The Whaleback Shell Mound is located within the
historically documented territory of the Etchemin, a culture ancestral
to the present day Penobscot Indian Nation.
In 1916, human remains representing one individual were acquired by
the Peabody Museum as part of an exchange with the Warren Anatomical
Museum, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University. No known individual
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Museum documentation lists the origin of these human remains as
``Penobscot Indian, Eastern Woodlands.''
In 1916, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum by The Boston Society of Natural History. Collection
information indicates these human remains came from Maine and were
collected in 1861 by Dr. J.F.W. Lane. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Museum documentation describes these human remains as ``Penobscot
Indian * * *''.
In 1919, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum by Arlo and Oric Bates who had removed the human
remains from a shell heap on Ames Point (now known as the Crocker
site), North Haven, ME at an earlier date. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Based on material culture, the Crocker site has been identified as
having an Etchemin occupation dating to the late precontact period
(1050-1700 A.D.). Historical documents and continuities of Etchemin
material culture indicate that Etchemin groups in this particular area
are the ancestral culture to the present day Penobscot Indian Nation.
In 1956, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum by the R.S. Peabody Foundation, Andover, MA. These
human remains were originally collected by Dexter W. Hodgdon, Jr. from
Indian Town Island, Boothbay Harbor, ME. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Based on material culture, Indian Town Island has been identified
as having an Etchemin occupation from the late precontact period (1050-
1600 A.D.). Historical documents and continuities of Etchemin material
culture indicate the Etchemin in this particular area are the ancestral
culture to the present day Penobscot Indian Nation.
In 1959, human remains representing one individual were acquired on
permanent loan by the Peabody Museum from the Warren Anatomical Museum,
Harvard Medical School, Harvard University. The Warren Anatomical
Museum has authorized the Peabody Museum to proceed with the
disposition of these human remains according to NAGPRA. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Museum documentation lists the location of the recovery of these
human remains as Tappan's Island, Damariscotta River, ME; and further
describes these remains as ``Monhegan Indian.'' Additional
documentation notes that the recovery site is a ``Formerly celebrated
burial place, but not used in the past 200 years.'' Known material
culture recovered from Tappan's Island indicates both late precontact
and historic components dating to 1050-1750 A.D. representing Etchemin
and Penobscot occupations. Historical documents and continuities of
Etchemin material culture indicate that Etchemin groups in this
particular area an ancestral culture to the present day Penobscot
Indian Nation.
In 1967, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum by Mr. Guy Mellgren of Hingham, MA. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Museum documentation indicates Mr. Mellgren collected these human
remains from the Goddard site, Naskeag Point, Brooklin, ME. Based on a
human collagen radiocarbon date of 679 +/- 59 BP, this individual is
from the late precontact period. This date and the location of the
Goddard site indicate this individual is most likely affiliated with
the Etchemin culture. Historical documents and continuities of Etchemin
material culture indicate that Etchemin groups in this particular area
an ancestral culture to the present day Penobscot Indian Nation.
Based on morphological evidence, including aspects of cranio-facial
and dental morphology, all human remains listed above have been
determined to be Native American.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the
physical remains of 13 individuals of Native American ancestry.
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have also
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 15 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 Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology 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 Penobscot Indian Nation.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Aroostook Band of
Micmac Indians, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy
Indian Tribe, and the Penobscot Indian Nation. Representatives of any
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact
Barbara Issac, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology
and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA
02138; telephone: (617) 495-2254, before February 11, 1998.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to
the culturally affiliated tribes may begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations
within this notice.
Dated: December 29, 1997.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-661 Filed 1-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F