[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 62 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 16961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7847]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items From the Kachemak 
Bay Region, AK in the Control of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 
in Possession of the University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate 
cultural items from the Kachemak Bay Region, Alaska in the control of 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and in possession of the University 
of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, AK which meet the definition of 
``unassociated funerary object'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    The two cultural items consist of a bone wedge and pumice.
    In 1931, these two cultural items were recovered with a burial at 
the Fox Farm Site, Yukon Island, AK during excavations conducted under 
the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania Museum by Frederica de 
Laguna. The human remains recovered with these cultural items have 
previously been repatriated from the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
    The two cultural items consist of a bone eye and a slate point.
    In 1932, these two cultural items were recovered with a burial on 
Yukon Island, Alaska during excavations conducted under the auspices of 
the University of Pennsylvania Museum by Frederica de Laguna. The human 
remains recovered with these cultural items have previously been 
repatriated from the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
    In 1953, the four cultural items mentioned above were sent to the 
University of Alaska Museum from the University of Pennsylvania Museum 
as part of an exchange collection.
    Based on material culture and oral history, the sites listed above 
have been identified as Kachemak Bay period occupations (c. 1500 AD).
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(2)(ii), these four cultural items 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 and are believed, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific 
burial site of a Native American individual. Officials of the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service 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 items and the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these objects should contact 
Deb Corbett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 E. Tudor Road, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99503; telephone: (907) 786-3399, fax: (907) 786-3635 
before May 1, 2000. Repatriation of these objects to the Chugach Alaska 
Corporation may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: March 23, 2000.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and 
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 00-7847 Filed 3-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F