[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52444-52445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21979]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects from Iowa in the Possession of the 
State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects in the possession of the State Historical 
Society of Iowa, Keyes Collection, Iowa City, IA.
    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 the Office 
of the State Archaeologist of Iowa professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Ponca Tribe of 
Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of 
Oklahoma, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma
    In 1926, human remains representing one individual and the 
associated funerary objects were excavated from site 13LO2, Blood Run 
National Historic Landmark, Lyon County, northwestern Iowa, by Charles 
R. Keyes and now form part of the Charles R. Keyes Archaeological 
Collection. Sometime around 1929, one of the site's landowners, Martin 
Johnson, found human remains representing a second individual while 
plowing his field; human remains from this site representing a third 
individual are also in the Keyes Collection. No information is 
available as to who collected the remains of this third individual nor 
when they were donated to the Keyes Collection. No known individuals 
were

[[Page 52445]]

identified. The 26 associated funerary objects include metal ear 
ornaments, fragments of ear ornaments, and a bison scapula hoe.
    Based on ethnohistorical and biological evidence, historical maps, 
and similarities in material culture and manner of interment, the site 
and remains have been identified as belonging to the Oneota and date to 
the 13th to 17th centuries. The Oneota are believed to be culturally 
affiliated with the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Ponca Tribe of 
Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of 
Oklahoma, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma based on 
continuities of material culture and historical documents. Oral history 
evidence presented by representatives of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, 
the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the 
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma 
further indicates affiliation with these present-day tribes.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the State 
Historical Society of Iowa have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of three individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
the State Historical Society of Iowa also have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 26 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 State Historical Society of Iowa 
have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can reasonably be traced 
between these Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects and the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, 
the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and 
the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma This notice has been sent to 
officials of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, 
the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and 
the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma. Representatives of any other 
Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact 
Jerome Thompson, State Historical Society of Iowa, New Historical 
Building, 600 East Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319-0290, telephone (515) 
281-4221, before September 28, 2000. Repatriation of these human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, 
the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the 
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma 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. 00-21979 Filed 8-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F