[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8853-8854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4471]



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Cass, Gage and Saunders Counties in the Possession of the Nebraska 
State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE

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), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects from Nebraska in the possession of the Nebraska State 
Historical Society, Lincoln, NE.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Nebraska 
State Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; the 
Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; the Kaw Nation, Oklahoma; and the 
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In 1937, human remains representing one individual were excavated 
at site 25GA2, Gage County, NE by Nebraska State Historical Society 
archaeologist A.T. Hill. No known individual was identified. The 
approximately 400 associated funerary objects include clay pipe 
fragments, thimbles, dangles, earrings, cartridge cases, bullets, iron 
hardware, nails, pencil leads, glass beads, ceramic buttons, crockery, 
a seed, and a ground stone tool.
    Site 25GA2 is located in the immediate vicinity of a major Otoe-
Missouri village occupied from 1854 to 1881. The recovered funerary 
objects are consistent with this time frame. The remains are most 
likely to be that of an Otoe-Missouri person. Based on material 
culture, ethnohistoric and cartographic evidence site 25GA2 is 
associated with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    In 1958, fragmentary human remains representing a minimum of 
fifteen individuals were excavated at site 25CC60, Cass County, NE by 
Nebraska State Historical Society archeologists. No known individuals 
were identified. The 64 associated funerary objects include glass 
beads, wampum beads, ceramic sherds, wood fragments, and copper and 
other metal items.
    Site 25CC60 is located very near to a series of Otoe-Missouri 
villages established in the 18th and 19th centuries. This time period 
is consistent with the time range of the associated funerary objects. 
These two tribes were

[[Page 8854]]

closely aligned and in regular contact during the 18th and 19th 
centuries in the lower Platte valley of eastern Nebraska. Based on 
material culture, ethnohistoric and cartographic evidence, site 25CC60 
is associated with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    In 1969 and 1970, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were excavated at site 25SD31, Saunders County, NE, 
discovered during construction on a very prominent bluff overlooking 
the Platte River valley by Nebraska State Historical Society 
archaeologists. No known individuals were identified. The approximately 
2,400 associated funerary objects include approximately 2,000 glass 
beads, modified and unmodified animal bone, shell, gun parts, metal 
rings, metal bracelets, metal ear ornaments, a kettle, wood/metal 
knives, ocher, blanket fragments, modified shell, metal pins, chipped 
stone debris, a stone human effigy pipebowl, catlinite and ceramic pipe 
fragments, wooden bowl fragments, furniture drawer pull and charcoal.
    Site 25SD31 is located very near to an Otoe-Missouri village 
established in the 18th century. Funerary objects suggest a mid 18th 
century affiliation for 25SD31. Based on material culture ethnohistoric 
and cartographic evidence, site 25SD31 is associated with the Otoe-
Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    In 1970, human remains representing a 20-27 year old female were 
excavated at site 25CC131 (King Hill site) Cass County, NE by Nebraska 
State Historical Society archeologists. No known individual was 
identified. The 35 associated funerary objects include iron tools, 
animal bone, glass and shell beads, brass rings, sheet metal, and 
chipped stone flaking debris.
    Site 25CC131 is located very near to a series of Otoe-Missouri 
villages established in the 18th and 19th centuries. This time period 
is consistent with the time range of the associated funerary objects. 
These two tribes were closely aligned and in regular contact during the 
18th and 19th centuries in the lower Platte valley of eastern Nebraska. 
Based on material culture, ethnohistoric and cartographic evidence, 
site 25CC131 is associated with the Otoe-Missouria tribe.
    In 1992, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were collected during construction at site 25SD82, Saunders county, NE, 
by a Nebraska State Historical Society archeologist and the Saunders 
County Sheriff. The site is not located on Federal Land. In accordance 
with Nebraska State law, further disturbance of burials at the site was 
avoided. The site is on a prominent bluff overlooking the Platte River 
valley near, and perhaps is an extension of, site 25SD31. No known 
individuals were identified. The ten associated funerary objects 
include a stone pipe, modified animal bone, glass beads, ground stone 
abraders, and a ceramic sherd.
    Site 25SD82 is located very near to an Otoe-Missouri village 
established in the 18th century. Funerary objects suggest a mid 18th 
century affiliation for 25SD82. Based on material culture, 
ethnohistoric and cartographic evidence, site 25SD82 is associated with 
the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Nebraska 
State Historical Society have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of nineteen individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Nebraska State Historical Society have also determined that, pursuant 
to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the approximately 3,000 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. Officials of the Nebraska State Historical Society have also 
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 
Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the the Otoe-Missouria 
Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; the 
Kaw Nation, Oklahoma; and the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. Representatives 
of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally 
affiliated with these human remains should contact Rob Bozell, 
Associate Director, Nebraska State Historical Society, 1500 R Street, 
P.O. Box 82554, Lincoln, NE 68501-2554; telephone: (402) 471-4789, 
before March 25, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma may 
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: February 11, 1999.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-4471 Filed 2-22-99 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F