[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 52442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21975]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items 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 under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10(a)(3), of the intent to repatriate 
cultural items in the possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA that meet 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 two cultural items are an iron hatchet and an iron adze head.
    In 1985, these cultural items were donated to the museum by William 
H. Claflin, Jr. At an unknown date, these cultural items were collected 
by General Crooks. Between 1878 and 1893, General Crooks sold these 
cultural items to William R. Morris. In 1930, Mr. Morris's widow sold 
the objects to William Claflin, Sr.
    Museum records indicate that these cultural items are from a Pawnee 
grave. Museum documents and consultation with representatives of the 
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma indicate that the recovery location was most 
likely the Elkhorn River in northeastern Nebraska. The style and 
material of the objects is consistent with objects dating to the 
1800's.
    Based on the specific cultural attribution in museum records, the 
probable 19th century date of the burial, and geographic location 
within the historical territory of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, the 
objects are considered to be affiliated with the Pawnee Nation of 
Oklahoma.
    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)(2)(ii), these two cultural items 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 and are 
believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from 
a specific burial site of an Native American individual. 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 items and 
the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. This notice has been sent to officials 
of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these 
objects should contact Barbara Isaac, Repatriation Corrdinator, Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 
02138, telephone (617) 495-2254, before September 28, 2000. 
Repatriation of these objects to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma may 
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: August 18, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-21975 Filed 8-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F