[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 11078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4827]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects From Madison and Oneida Counties, NY in 
the Possession of the Rochester Museum and Science Center, Rochester, 
NY

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 Madison County, NY in the possession of the 
Rochester Museum and Science Center, Rochester, NY.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Rochester 
Museum and Science Center professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Cayuga Nation of New York, the Oneida Nation of 
New York, the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, the Onondaga Nation of New 
York, the Seneca Nation of New York, the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of 
Oklahoma, the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York, the 
Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin, the 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York, and the Tuscarora Nation 
of New York.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing two individuals were 
recovered from the Deraway site (Msv 005) near Stockbridge, Madison 
County, NY by person(s) unknown. In 1979, these human remains were 
donated to the Rochester Museum and Science Center by Gilbert Hagerty. 
No known individuals were identified. The six associated funerary 
objects include blanket fragments, chert flakes, and a perforated cut 
brass fragment.
    Based on skeletal morphology and the associated funerary objects, 
these individuals have been identified as Native American. Based on 
site location and continuities of material culture, the Deraway site 
has been identified as an Oneida occupation dating to c. 1696-1720 A.D.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing 16 individuals were 
recovered from the Quarry site (Msv 004) near Stockbridge, Madison 
County, NY by person(s) unknown. In 1979, these human remains were 
donated to the Rochester Museum and Science Center by Gilbert Hagerty. 
No known individuals were identified. The 39 associated funerary 
objects include a chert chunk, brass fragments, a brass bead, a shell 
claw pendant, cut bone, charred maize kernels, and pottery sherds.
    Based on the associated funerary objects and skeletal morphology, 
these individuals have been determined to be Native American. Based on 
the type of associated funerary objects, site location, and condition 
of the human remains, the Quarry site has been identified as an Oneida 
occupation dating to c. 1640-1650 A.D.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing three individuals 
were recovered from the Sullivan site (Ond 003) near Stockbridge, 
Madison County, NY by person(s) unknown. In 1979, these human remains 
were donated to the Rochester Museum and Science Center by Gilbert 
Hagerty. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Based on skeletal morphology, these individuals have been 
identified as Native American. Based on excavation reports, site 
location, condition of the human remains, and continuities of material 
culture, the Sullivan site has been identified as an Oneida occupation 
dating to c. 1660-1677 A.D.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing three individuals 
were recovered from the Thurston site (Msv 001), Eaton Township, 
Madison County, NY by Herbert Bigford, who donated these human remains 
to the Rochester Museum and Science Center in 1945. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on skeletal morphology, these individuals have been 
identified as Native American. Based on site location and continuities 
of material culture, the Thurston site has been identified as an Oneida 
occupation dating to c. 1625-1637 A.D.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered from the Sterling site, in Verona, Madison County, NY by 
person(s) unknown. In 1979, these human remains were donated to the 
Rochester Museum and Science Center by Gilbert Hagerty. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on skeletal morphology, this individual has been identified 
as Native American. Based on site location and continuities of material 
culture, the Sterling site has been identified as an Oneida occupation 
dating to c. 1750-10.21767 A.D.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the 
Rochester Museum and Science Center have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the 
physical remains of 25 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Rochester Museum and Science Center have also 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2), the 45 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 Rochester Museum and 
Science Center 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 Oneida Nation of New York and the Oneida Tribe 
of Wisconsin.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cayuga Nation of New 
York, the Oneida Nation of New York, the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, the 
Onondaga Nation of New York, the Seneca Nation of New York, the Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New 
York, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin, 
the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York, and the Tuscarora 
Nation of New York. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should contact Connie Bodner, NAGPRA 
Liaison, Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Avenue, 
Rochester, NY 14607-2177; telephone: (716) 271-4552, ext. 345, before 
March 31, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Oneida Nation of New York may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: February 23, 2000.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and 
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 00-4827 Filed 2-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F