[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 50002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20823]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Oklahoma in the Possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

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 from Oklahoma 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 Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In 1963, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the Robert S. 
Peabody Foundation, Robert S. Peabody Museum, Phillips Academy, 
Andover, MA. No known individual was identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a Hudson Engraved pottery vessel. This associated 
funerary object is in the collections of the Robert S. Peabody Museum, 
Phillips Academy, Andover, MA and will be reported in a separate 
notice.
    Museum records indicate that these human remains were excavated by 
J.H. Rogers of the Texas, Oklahoma and Eastern Railroad Company and 
collected by E.S. Byington in 1913. While no exact record of the 
excavation has been located, Byington wrote in 1912 that he witnessed 
burial mounds being destroyed during the construction of the railroad 
crossing at Glover River, one-half mile from the Little River in 
McCurtain County, OK.
    Based on the Hudson Engraved ceramic vessel, this individual has 
been identified as Native American, dating to the McCurtain phase (or 
focus), A.D. 1450-1600. Hudson Engraved ceramics are related to the 
McCurtain phase, and historic evidence indicates that Hudson Engraved 
ceramics were produced by Caddoan peoples circa A.D. 1500-1730. 
Although the exact site from which these human remains were recovered 
is not known, other sites in the area have produced Hudson Engraved or 
closely related vessels, some of which have been found in association 
with European trade items. Based on the combined archeological and 
historical evidence, it is likely these human remains represent a Caddo 
individual.
    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 one individual 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 Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma. 
This notice has been sent to officials of the Caddo Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 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 15, 
2000. Repatriation of the human remains to the Caddo Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: July 27, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-20823 Filed 8-15-00; 8:45 am]
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