[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50001-50002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20822]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item from Warren, RI in 
the Possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Phillips Academy, 
Andover, MA

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 
a cultural item in the possession of the Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA that meets the definition of 
``unassociated funerary object'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    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 
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    The one cultural item is a small, double-layered textile fragment 
with copper staining.
    In 1914, this cultural item was recovered from the Burr's Hill 
site, Warren, RI during excavations conducted by S.D. Seaman. At an 
unknown date, this cultural item was donated to or bought by the Robert 
S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA.
    Burr's Hill is believed to be located on the southern border of 
Sowams, a Wampanoag village. Sowams is identified in historic documents 
of the 17th and 18th centuries as a Wampanoag village, and was ceded to 
the English in 1653 by Massasoit and his eldest son Wamsutta 
(Alexander). Based on the presence of European trade goods and types of 
cultural items, these cultural items have been dated to A.D. 1600-1710. 
A tag with this cultural item identifies it as having come from a grave 
at Burr's Hill. Based on this evidence, the documented survival of 
textiles in early contact period Wampanoag graves, and copper staining 
on the textile, this cultural item is most likely to have come from a 
burial.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Robert 
S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(2)(ii), this one cultural item is 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 is believed, 
by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a 
specific burial site of an Native American individual. Officials of the 
Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology 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 this item and the 
Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe 
of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag (a non-Federally 
recognized Indian group), and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation 
(a non-Federally recognized Indian group). This notice has been sent to 
officials of the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the 
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, the Mashpee Wampanoag (a non-Federally 
recognized Indian group), and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation 
(a non-Federally recognized Indian group); and the Narragansett Indian 
Tribe of Rhode Island. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with this object should 
contact James W. Bradley, Director, Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA 01810, telephone (978) 749-
4490, before September 15, 2000. Repatriation of this object to the 
Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe 
of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag (a non-Federally 
recognized Indian group), and the

[[Page 50002]]

Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally recognized Indian 
group) may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: August 9, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-20822 Filed 8-15-00; 8:45 am]
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