[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36918-36919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17365]


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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 Lincoln County, MT in the 
Possession of the Human Osteology Repository, Department of 
Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

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 Lincoln County, MT in the possession of the Human 
Osteology Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of 
Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Human 
Osteology Repository professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the 
Flathead Reservation.
    During the mid-1970s, human remains representing a minimum of six 
individuals were removed from private lands adjacent to the U.S.-
Canadian border on the eastern banks of the Kootenai River, Lincoln 
County, MT by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald C. Morgan and Donald Morgan. During 
the mid-to-late 1970s, these human remains were donated by an unknown 
anthropology student to the Anthropology Department of the University 
of Wyoming. In 1994 and 1995, these six individuals were confirmed to 
be in the collections of the Human Osteology Repository. No known 
individuals were identified. The four associated funerary objects 
include a small historic glass button with four holes, an historic 
white glazed ceramic sherd, a soil sample, and a fragment of a white 
paste ceramic pipe stem.
    Based on skeletal morphology and reported burial associations, 
these individuals have been identified as Native American. Based on the 
types of associated funerary objects, these burials are estimated to 
date to the mid to late-19th century. Cultural affiliation is assessed 
based on the location of the original interments within historically-
defined Kootenai territory. The area of original interment is also 
located with in the judicially established Indian Lands Claims area of 
the Kootenai.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Human 
Osteology Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming 
have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains 
listed above represent the physical remains of six individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Human Osteology Repository, 
Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming have also determined 
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the four 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 Human Osteology Repository, 
Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming 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

[[Page 36919]]

Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Confederated Salish & 
Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
Rick L. Weathermon, NAGPRA Contact, University of Wyoming Department of 
Anthropology Human Osteology Repository, University of Wyoming, P.O. 
Box 3431, Laramie, WY 82071-3431; telephone: (307) 766-5136, before 
August 9, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the 
Flathead Reservation may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
Dated: June 29, 1999.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-17365 Filed 7-7-99: 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F