[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49833-49835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20700]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and an Associated Funerary Object from Rhode Island in the Possession 
of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, MA

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 object from Rhode Island in the possession of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
    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 Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island; 
the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the Wampanoag 
Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe (a 
non-Federally recognized Indian group), and the Assonet Band of the 
Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally recognized Indian group); and a non-
Federally recognized Indian group, the Nipmuc Nation.
    In 1878, human remains representing two individuals were donated to 
the Peabody Museum by Dr. S. Kneeland, as part of a large collection. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that these human remains came from 
Cumberland, RI. Based on cranial morphology, one individual has been 
determined to be Native American, and the other has been determined to 
be of Native American and European ancestry. Osteological examination 
of the cranial remains of these individuals has revealed cut marks of a 
sharp metal blade, probably a result of scalping. Based on this 
evidence, these individuals are estimated to date to the contact period 
or later (post-A.D. 1524). Historical and ethnographic information 
indicates that the area of Rhode Island west of Narragansett Bay, 
including the Cumberland area, is the aboriginal and historic homeland 
of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island.
    In 1963, human remains representing two individuals were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the Robert S. 
Peabody Foundation, Andover, MA. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that these human remains were 
collected from Conanicut Island, Jamestown, RI by Ferdinand Amburst. 
Conanicut Island is a well-known historic center of the Narragansett 
Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, and hundreds of Native American burials 
from the contact period or later (post-A.D. 1524) have been identified 
on the island. Additionally, the manner of interment of Archaic period 
burials from Conanicut Island is cremation. Based on the historical 
context of Conanicut Island and the non-cremated state of these human 
remains, it is likely these individuals date to the contact period or 
later (post-A.D. 1524).
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the 
physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology also 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 the Narragansett Indian Tribe of 
Rhode Island.
    In 1869, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum by Henry Brown. No known individual was identified. 
The one associated funerary object is a string of wampum and glass 
beads.
    Museum documentation describes these human remains as having come 
from the Stone Bridge burial place in Tiverton, RI. Based on the glass 
beads, this burial is estimated to date to the contact period (A.D. 
1524-1680). Oral tradition and historic documentation indicate that 
Tiverton, RI is within the aboriginal and historic homeland of the 
Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe 
of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee

[[Page 49834]]

Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a non-Federally recognized Indian group), and 
the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally recognized 
Indian group).
    In 1869, human remains representing three individuals were donated 
to the Peabody Museum by Andre Robeson. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    During a Peabody Museum expedition to Anaquaket Neck, Tiverton, RI, 
these human remains were collected by Jefferies Wyman. Based on the 
type of copper staining and osteological examination, these individuals 
have been identified as Native American and are estimated to date to 
the contact period or later (post-A.D. 1524). Tiverton, RI is within 
the aboriginal and historic homeland of the Wampanoag Repatriation 
Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), 
the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a non-Federally recognized Indian 
group), and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally 
recognized Indian group).
    In 1946, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum by R.P. Bullen of Andover, MA, and Mr. and Mrs. 
Malcolm Beattie of Tiverton, RI. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that these human remains were 
recovered from Beattie Point, Tiverton, RI. A letter from the donor 
describes this individual as having been ``buried in a casket and 
wrapped in shawls pinned with copper (or brass) pins...estimated date 
of burial 1750 +/-.'' Osteological examination indicated this 
individual to be of Native American and African American ancestry. 
Tiverton, RI is within the aboriginal and historic homeland of the 
Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe 
of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a non-
Federally recognized Indian group), and the Assonet Band of the 
Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally recognized Indian group).
    In 1959, human remains representing one individual were placed on 
permanent loan to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology from 
the Warren Anatomical Museum, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Museum documentation indicates that these human remains came from 
Tiverton, RI. The type of copper staining present indicates that this 
individual dates to the contact period or later (post-A.D. 1524). Based 
on osteological examination, this individual has been identified as 
Native American. Tiverton, RI is within the aboriginal and historic 
homeland of the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the 
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian 
Tribe (a non-Federally recognized Indian group), and the Assonet Band 
of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally recognized Indian group).
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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 Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology also have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the one object 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 Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnlology 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 Wampanoag Repatriation 
Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), 
the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a non-Federally recognized Indian 
group), and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally 
recognized Indian group).
    In 1942, human remains representing six individuals were received 
by the Peabody Museum through an exchange with Mt. Pleasant High 
School, Providence, RI. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that these human remains are from 
Rhode Island, and were donated to Mt. Pleasant High School by Brown 
University. No further information is available. Based on the type of 
copper stains present on the human remains, these individuals have been 
identified as Native American dating to the contact period or later 
(post-A.D. 1524). Oral tradition, historical, and ethnographic 
information indicates that the present-day State of Rhode Island 
comprised the historic homeland of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of 
Rhode Island west of Narragansett Bay; the historic homeland of the 
Nipmuc Nation (a non-Federally recognized Indian group) in northwestern 
Rhode Island; and the historic homeland of the Wampanoag Repatriation 
Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), 
the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a non-Federally recognized Indian 
group), and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally 
recognized Indian group) east of Narragansett Bay.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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 Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology also 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 the Narragansett Indian Tribe of 
Rhode Island; the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing 
the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag 
Indian Tribe (a non-Federally recognized Indian group), and the Assonet 
Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally recognized Indian group); 
and a non-Federally recognized Indian group, the Nipmuc Nation. This 
notice has been sent to officials of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of 
Rhode Island; the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing 
the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag 
Indian Tribe (a non-Federally recognized Indian group), and the Assonet 
Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally recognized Indian group); 
and a non-Federally recognized Indian group, the Nipmuc Nation. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
object should contact Barbara Isaac, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity 
Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 495-2254, before September 
14, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
object to the respective culturally affiliated tribes may begin after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.


[[Page 49835]]


    Dated: August 3, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-20700 Filed 8-14-00 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F