[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 165 (Thursday, August 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46717-46719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22167]


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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 Alaska in the Possession of the 
Laboratory of Anthropology, University of Alaska-Anchorage, 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), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Laboratory of Anthropology, 
University of Alaska-Anchorage, Anchorage, AK.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Laboratory 
of Anthropology, University of Alaska-Anchorage professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of Chugach Alaska Corporation, the 
Chugach Heritage Foundation, the Cook Inlet Region, Inc. Foundation, 
and the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.
    In 1974, human remains representing a minimum of 23 individuals 
were recovered at the Cottonwood Creek site (SEL 030) on the north 
shore of Kachemak Bay, south-central Alaska during archeological 
excavations conducted by Alaska Methodist University and the Anchorage 
Community College. No known individuals were identified. The 3,200 
associated funerary objects include bone and shell beads, labrets, two 
bone knives, two diamond-shaped artificial eyes, a tiny bone inlay, and 
an edged slate scrap.
    Based on the associated funerary objects; radiocarbon dating of the 
site; and manner of interment unique to the time period, these burials 
are estimated to date to between 2,000 and 1,500 years ago. Based on 
these dates, the Cottonwood Creek site has been identified as a late-
stage Kachemak Tradition occupation.
    In 1974, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were recovered from the Chugachik Island site (SEL 033) on Chugachik 
Island during a test excavation conducted by Alaska Methodist 
University and the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources 
Division of Parks, Office of History and Archeology. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects were 
present.
    In 1977, human remains representing a minimum of 13 individuals 
were

[[Page 46718]]

recovered from the Chugachik Island site (SEL 033) during archeological 
excavations conducted by the University of Alaska-Anchorage and 
Anchorage Community College. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1980, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from an eroding midden face at the Chugachik Island site 
(SEL 033) by a unknown visitor and donated to the Laboratory of 
Anthropology, University of Alaska, Anchorage. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1981, human remains representing up to 45 individuals were 
recovered from the Chugachik Island site (SEL 033) during archeological 
excavations conducted by the University of Alaska-Anchorage and 
Anchorage Community College. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1982, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were recovered from the Chugachik Island site (SEL 033) and an 
associated beach front by Peter Zollars under the supervision of the 
University of Alaska-Anchorage. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1984, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Chugachik Island site (SEL 033) by Peter Zollars under the 
supervision of the University of Alaska-Anchorage. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects were present.
    In 1995, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals 
were recovered from the Chugachik Island site (SEL033) by a local 
resident. No known individuals were identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a birdbone tube cut at both ends.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual from 
a beach at the Chugachik Island site (SEL033) were recovered by an 
unknown person and donated to the University of Alaska-Anchorage. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on radiocarbon dating, burial practices, intentionally 
modified human remains, and material culture, the Chugachik Island site 
has been identified as a Kachemak Tradition occupation dating to 
between 2400 to 1500 years ago.
    In 1977, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Yukon Island Fox Farm site (SEL041) on Yukon Island during 
excavations under the direction of William Workman (University of 
Alaska-Anchorage) and John Lobdell (Anchorage Community College). No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects were 
present.
    In 1978, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Yukon Island Fox Farm site (SEL041) during a house pit trench 
excavation conducted by Frederica De Laguna and Karen Workman which 
included this disturbed burial in slough deposits. No known individual 
was identified. In 1993, three associated funerary objects were 
recovered from this burial and consist of a whalebone dagger and two 
barbed darts.
    In 1985, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were recovered from the Yukon Island Fox Farm site (SEL041) during 
excavations conducted by Peter Zollars. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1986, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were recovered from the Yukon Island Fox Farm site (SEL041) during 
excavations conducted by Peter Zollars. No known individual was 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a hammerstone.
    In 1987, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were recovered from the Yukon Island Fox Farm site (SEL041) during 
excavations conducted by William Workman (University of Alaska-
Anchorage) and Peter Zollars. No known individuals were identified. The 
ten associated funerary objects include a porpoise skull and other non-
human bones.
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were recovered from preserved buried beach deposits at the Great Midden 
site (SEL001) on Yukon Island during excavations conducted by John 
Lobdell of Anchorage Community College and Frederica De Laguna. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on radiocarbon dating and material culture, the Yukon Island 
Fox Farm site and the Great Midden site have been identified as 
Kachemak Tradition occupation dating to 1500--3000 years ago.
    In 1984, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were collected from a burial eroding down a steep slope at the front of 
the North Bluff site on Yukon Island by William Workman of the 
University of Alaska-Anchorage. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    This site has not been investigated, however, a late Kachemak 
Tradition provenance seems likely based on the considerable depth of 
the exposed cultural deposits.
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were collected from an eroding midden site on Neptune Bay, Kachemak Bay 
by University of Alaska-Anchorage and Anchorage Community College 
archeologists. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    This site on Neptune Bay has not been investigated, however, a late 
Kachemak Tradition provenance seems likely based on the considerable 
depth of the exposed cultural deposits.
    Although the people of the Kachemak Tradition withdrew from 
Kachemak Bay no later than around 1,000 years ago, they were closely 
related in biology and culture to contemporary Kachemak Tradition 
people in the Kodiak Archipelago, with whom it is probable that they 
amalgamated. The Kodiak version of the Kachemak Tradition has been 
clearly documented by detailed archeological study of cultural material 
from a number of archeological sites and human biological study of 
several hundred human remains as the primary cultural and biological 
ancestor of the contemporary Alutiiq people of the Kodiak Archipelago 
and adjacent areas. The Kachemak Bay manifestation of the Kachemak 
Tradition should thus be viewed as a regional expression of ancestral 
Alutiiq or Pacific Eskimo culture, a complex long-enduring (at least 
3,800 years) regional mosaic of cultural patterns with living 
descendents in the Kodiak archipelago, Prince William Sound, and 
elsewhere in south central Alaska.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the 
University of Alaska-Anchorage have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of 108 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
the University of Alaska-Anchorage have also determined that, pursuant 
to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the approximately 3,215 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 University of Alaska-Anchorage 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 
Chugach Alaska Corporation, the Native Village of Port Graham, the 
Native Village of Nanwalek

[[Page 46719]]

(aka English Bay), and the Seldovia Village Tribe.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation, the Chugach Heritage Foundation, the Cook Inlet Region, 
Inc. Foundation, the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, the Native Village of Port 
Graham, the Native Village of Nanwalek (aka English Bay), and the 
Seldovia Village Tribe. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should contact Professor William 
Workman, Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska-Anchorage, 
3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508; telephone: (907) 789-6842, 
before September 27, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Chugach Alaska Corporation on behalf 
of the Native Village of Port Graham, the Native Village of Nanwalek 
(aka English Bay), and the Seldovia Village Tribe may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: August 10, 1999.
Richard Waldbauer,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-22167 Filed 8-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F