[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 141 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45401-45402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18463]


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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 Control of the 
Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby give 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 control of the Alaska State Office, Bureau of 
Land Management, Anchorage, AK. This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 
43 CFR 10.2 (c). The determinations within this notice are the sole 
responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has 
control of these Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Bureau 
of Land Management and Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown 
University professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Native Village of Kotzebue.
    During 1956-61, human remains representing 49 individuals were 
collected or excavated by Dr. J. Louis Giddings under a Federal permit 
from a series of burials at Cape Krusenstern, Battle Rock Site 
vicinity, and the Choris Peninsula. These human remains are curated at 
the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology in Bristol, RI. No known 
individuals were identified. The 387 associated funerary objects 
include projectile points, scrapers, knives, flake tools, flakes, side 
and end blade insets, an adze head, a split bone piercer, an ivory 
handle, a whale and seal head carving, antler arrowheads and arrowhead 
fragments, 1 potsherd, 4 wooden mask fragments, 1 walrus bone pick, 
animal bones and teeth, and 2 blue feathers.

[[Page 45402]]

    Based on skeletal morphology, geographic location, and associated 
objects, these individuals have been identified as Native American, 
affiliated with Inupiat Eskimo culture and specifically with the Native 
Village of Kotzebue. This determination of cultural affiliation has 
been based upon the continuity of Native Americans in the Kotzebue area 
and their oral tradition that the area where the remains were found is 
within their traditional territory.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Bureau 
of Land Management have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of 49 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Bureau 
of Land Management also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(2), the 387 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 Bureau of Land Management have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be 
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects and the Native Village of Kotzebue. This 
notice has been sent to officials of the Native Village of Kotzebue. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Dr. Robert E. King, Alaska State NAGPRA 
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, 222 West 7th Avenue, 
13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599, telephone (907) 271-5510, before 
August 21, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Native Village of Kotzebue may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: June 17, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-18463 Filed 7-20-00; 8:45 am]
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