[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4285-4286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1992]



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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 Maine in the Possession of the 
Department of Anthropology, University of Maine, Orono, ME

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 Maine in the possession of the 
Department of Anthropology, University of Maine, Orono, ME.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by University 
of Maine professional staff and a consulting forensic anthropologist in 
consultation with representatives of the Aroostook Band of MicMacs, 
Houlton Band of Maliseets, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Penobscot 
Indian Nation.
    Prior to 1966, human remains representing one individual were 
uncovered at Benton Falls, ME during a mill foundation excavation. 
These human remains were donated to the Department of Anthropology, 
University of Maine by an unknown person. No known individual was 
identified. The three associated funerary objects are tubular copper 
beads.
    Based on the associated funerary objects, this individual has been 
determined to be Native American. The copper beads also appear to be 
from the historic period (post-1600 AD). Because these human remains 
are likely from the post-contact period (post-1600 A.D.) and historical 
documents place the Wabanaki in Maine during this time, these human 
remains are affiliated with the Micmac, Malecite, Passamaquoddy, 
Penobscot present-day tribes.
    In 1968, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Hathaway site (91-1), Passadumkeag, ME during an 
archaeological excavation conducted by Dr. Dean Snow and sponsored by 
the University of Maine and the National Science Foundation. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects were present.
    Archaeological evidence based on the material culture of Maine 
indicates that the Ceramic Period (c. 1,000 B.C. to the contact period) 
``is the prehistory of those Algonkian speakers known generally as the 
Wabenakis; including the Micmac, Malecite, Passamaquoddy, [and] 
Penobscot.'' A radiocarbon date of 200+/-80 A.D. from charcoal near the 
human remains dates these remains to well within the Ceramic Period 
considered ancestral to the present-day tribes of Maine.
    During the 1960s, human remains representing one individual were 
donated to the University of Maine by the Portland Society of Natural 
History. In 1930, these human remains were recovered during streetcar 
track construction in Waterville, ME. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on dental morphology, this individual has been determined to 
be Native American. Published reports of the excavation indicated there 
was red-stained sand in association with these human remains (the sand 
was not recovered). Based on the state of preservation and the lack of 
red staining on these human remains, the date of burial has been 
estimated to be from the Ceramic into the Historic period (c. 1,000 
B.C. to post-1600 A.D.). Archaeological evidence based on the material 
culture of Maine indicates that the Ceramic Period (c. 1,000 B.C. to 
the contact period) ``is the prehistory of those Algonkian speakers 
known generally as the Wabenakis; including the Micmac, Malecite, 
Passamaquoddy, [and] Penobscot.''
    During the 1960s, human remains representing one individual were 
donated to the University of Maine by the Portland National History 
Society. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Information accompanying these human remains indicate they were 
recovered from Rogers (possibly Roques or Rogues) Island. No further 
information is available. Based on the state of preservation of the 
remains and coastal location of the site, a shell midden context for 
these human remains is likely. Interment in shell middens is commonly 
associated with the Ceramic period. Archaeological evidence based on 
the material culture of Maine indicates that the Ceramic Period (c. 
1,000 B.C. to the contact period) ``is the prehistory of those 
Algonkian speakers known generally as the Wabenakis; including the 
Micmac, Malecite, Passamaquoddy, [and] Penobscot.''
    During the 1960s, human remains representing one individual were 
donated to the Department of Anthropology, University of Maine by the 
Portland Natural History Society. No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    Information accompanying these human remains indicates that they 
were acquired in 1924 by Mr. Samuel Hiscock of Round Pond, ME from a 
``workman'' digging in the Damariscotta Oyster Shell Heaps, ME. This 
information also suggests there may have been some Ceramic period 
objects with the human remains which were not included in the donation. 
Archaeological evidence based on the material culture of the 
Damariscotta Shell Heaps indicates that the Ceramic Period (c. 1,000 
B.C. to the contact period) ``is the prehistory of those Algonkian 
speakers known generally as the Wabenakis; including the Micmac, 
Malecite, Passamaquoddy, [and] Penobscot.''
    During the 1960s, human remains representing two individuals from 
Cape Elizabeth and South Freeport, ME were donated to the Department of 
Anthropology, University of Maine by the Portland Natural History 
Society. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Information with these human remains indicates they were removed 
from Cape Elizabeth, ME and donated to the Portland Natural History 
Society in 1955 by Mr. and Mrs. Rogerson of Portland, ME; and a Mr. 
Randall donated additional human remains from South Freeport, ME. These 
human remains were not cataloged by the Portland Natural History 
Society, and have been co-mingled so that it is not possible to 
separate them by locality. Based on dental morphology, these human 
remains have been determined to be Native American. Based on the 
recovery of these human remains from the bases of eroded banks and the 
state of preservation of the remains, the date of burial has been 
estimated to be from the Ceramic into the Historic period (c. 1,000 
B.C. to post-1600 A.D.). Archaeological evidence based on the material 
culture of Maine indicates that the Ceramic Period (c. 1,000 B.C. to 
the contact period) ``is the prehistory of those Algonkian speakers 
known generally as the Wabenakis; including the Micmac, Malecite, 
Passamaquoddy, [and] Penobscot.''
    Prior to 1971, human remains representing one individual from 
``High Point'', Hampden, ME were donated to the Department of 
Anthropology, possibly by Mr. Earl Banks. No known individual was 
identified. No funerary objects are present.
    Based on the molar wear patterns present, this individual has been 
determined to be Native American. Although this exact site is unknown, 
the state of preservation of these human remains indicate that they are 
fairly recent, probably post-contact (c.1600).

[[Page 4286]]

Because these human remains are likely from the post-contact period 
(post-1600 A.D.) and historical documents place the Wabanaki in Maine 
during this time, these human remains are affiliated with the Micmac, 
Malecite, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot present-day tribes.
    In 1973, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were recovered from a highly disturbed sand dune (71-2) in Farmington 
Falls, ME by unknown person(s) and have been curated at the Department 
of Anthropology, University of Maine, since that time. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on the state of preservation, these human remains are 
believed to date from the Ceramic period into the contact period. 
Archaeological evidence based on the material culture of Maine 
indicates that the Ceramic Period (c. 1,000 B.C. to the contact period) 
``is the prehistory of those Algonkian speakers known generally as the 
Wabenakis; including the Micmac, Malecite, Passamaquoddy, [and] 
Penobscot.''
    In 1973, human remains representing two individuals were removed 
from Winnock's Neck (site 8-1), Scarboro, ME during investigations by 
amateur archeologists. These human remains and field notes pertaining 
to them were subsequently donated to the University of Maine by unknown 
individual(s). No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The field notes accompanying these remains indicate they were 
recovered with three pottery sherds, indicating a likely Ceramic Period 
date for these human remains. Archaeological evidence based on the 
material culture of Maine indicates that the Ceramic Period (c. 1,000 
B.C. to the contact period) ``is the prehistory of those Algonkian 
speakers known generally as the Wabenakis; including the Micmac, 
Malecite, Passamaquoddy, [and] Penobscot.''
    In 1984, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
from the Todd site (17-11) Bremem, ME were recovered by a University of 
Maine research team. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The Todd site (17-11) has been identified as a shell midden dating 
to the late Ceramic period (post 1000 A.D.). Archaeological evidence 
based on the material culture of Maine indicates that the Ceramic 
Period (c. 1,000 B.C. to the contact period) ``is the prehistory of 
those Algonkian speakers known generally as the Wabenakis; including 
the Micmac, Malecite, Passamaquoddy, [and] Penobscot.''
    In 1989, human remains representing a minimum of nine individuals 
were recovered from the Eddington Bend site (74-8), Eddington, ME 
during a FERC-required recovery excavation by University of Maine 
personnel. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects were recoverable.
    Based on dental morphology, these individuals have been determined 
to be Native American. Based on the presence of a highly oxidized and 
unrecoverable piece of iron in the pit feature with the human remains 
and apparent iron or steel tool cut marks on the bones, these human 
remains probably date to the post-contact period. Because these human 
remains are likely from the post-contact period (post-1600 A.D.) and 
historical documents place the Wabanaki in Maine during this time, 
these human remains are affiliated with the Micmac, Malecite, 
Passamaquoddy, Penobscot present-day tribes.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the 
Department of Anthropology, University of Maine have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of a minimum of 21 individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Department of Anthropology, 
University of Maine have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001 (3)(A), the three 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 Department of Anthropology, University of Maine have determined 
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), 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 
Aroostook Band of MicMacs, Houlton Band of Maliseets, Passamaquoddy 
Tribe, and the Penobscot Indian Nation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Aroostook Band of 
MicMacs, Houlton Band of Maliseets, Passamaquoddy 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 Dr. David Sanger, 
Department of Anthropology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469; 
telephone: (207) 581-1894, before February 27, 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.
Dated: January 15, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-1992 Filed 1-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F