[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50002-50003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20827]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Tongass 
National Forest, U.S. Forest Service, Petersburg, AK

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 and associated 
funerary objects in possession of the Tongass National Forest, U.S. 
Forest Service, Petersburg, 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 U.S. Forest 
Service professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Wrangell Cooperative Association.
    In 1976, local school students removed human remains representing 
one individual and 60 shell beads from the Coffman Cove Site, Prince of 
Wales Island, AK and donated them to the Tongass National Forest, U.S. 
Forest Service. Examination of the site determined that the burial was 
intrusive into the older occupations of the site. Examination of the 
remains suggested that they were less than 100 years old. No known 
individual was identified. The shell beads are the only associated 
funerary objects.
    Later in 1976, U.S. Forest Service archeologists conducted 
excavations at the Coffman Cove Site that yielded human remains 
representing one individual. The stratigraphic context of the remains 
suggests that the remains date to A.D. 500-650. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects were recovered with the 
remains.
    Based on the results of cranial morphometric analysis, these human 
remains are determined to be Native American. Ethnographic evidence and 
oral history indicates that Prince of

[[Page 50003]]

Wales Island, AK, where the remains and funerary objects were found, 
was within the traditional territory of the Stikine Tlingit when both 
sets of remains were deposited. The archeological record of 
southeastern Alaska documents cultural continuity over the last 4,000 
years, demonstrating that Stikine Tlingit territory has included 
Coffman Cove throughout that period.
    In 1977, human remains representing two individuals were discovered 
in the Wrangell Burial Cave Site (Alaska Heritage Resource Survey Site 
PET092) on the eastern side of Wrangell Island, AK by Alaska Department 
of Fish and Game employees. The condition of the remains suggests that 
they are less than 500 years old. No known individuals were identified. 
No objects were recovered with the remains.
    Based on the results of cranial morphometric analysis, the human 
remains are determined to be Native American. Ethnographic evidence 
indicates that Wrangell Island was within the traditional territory of 
the Stikine Tlingit when the remains were deposited.
    In 1985, U.S. Forest Service archeologists and Wrangell Cooperative 
Association representatives jointly removed human remains contained in 
a bentwood box from the Stikine Strait Pictograph and Bentwood Box Site 
(Alaska Heritage Resource Survey Site PET246), Zarembo Island, AK. 
These remains represent one individual. No known individual was 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a cedar container.
    Based on the associated funerary object and manner of interment, 
the human remains are determined to be Native American. The presence of 
the wooden box indicates that the burial was relatively recent in date. 
Ethnographic evidence and oral history indicates that Zarembo Island, 
AK, where the remains were found, is within the traditional territory 
of the Stikine Tlingit.
    The Wrangell Cooperative Association represents the Stikine Tlingit 
for the purposes of repatriation of remains from this area of Alaska. 
The Wrangell Cooperative Association has identified the islands of 
Prince of Wales, Wrangell, and Zarembo, AK, as part of the traditional 
occupational territory for the Stikine Tlingit. There is no evidence to 
indicate otherwise.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of five 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Forest 
Service, also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2), the 
61 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 United 
States Forest Service 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 Wrangell Cooperative Association, representing 
the Stikine Tlingit.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Wrangell Cooperative 
Association. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and 
associated funerary objects should contact Carol Jorgensen, Assistant 
Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, P.O. Box 309, Petersburg, 
AK, 99833, telephone (907) 772-3841, before September 15, 2000. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Stikine Tlingit, represented by the Wrangell Cooperative 
Association, may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: August 10, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-20827 Filed 8-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F