[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55043-55044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23380]


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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, Des Moines, IA

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 the possession of the State Historical Society of 
Iowa, Des Moines, 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 Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Iowa 
Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In 1934, human remains representing 25 individuals were recovered 
from site 13AM21, the O'Regan Terrace, Allamakee County, IA during 
excavations conducted by Ellison Orr, under the direction of Charles R. 
Keyes, while a small number of human remains and objects from the same 
site were donated to Keyes and Orr by unknown individuals at an unknown 
date. No known individuals were identified. The 202 associated funerary 
objects include chipped stone tools, fossil fragments, a pebble, a 
clamshell, chert flakes, glass beads, pottery, metal ear ornaments, 
beaver incisor fragments, a bone awl fragment, a copper bracelet, and a 
brown fibrous material.
    In 1934, human remains representing seven individuals were 
excavated from site 13AM59, Elephant Terrace, Allamakee County, 
northeastern Iowa, by Charles R. Keyes and Ellison Orr. No known 
individuals were identified. The six associated funerary objects 
include a whetstone, a chipped stone, a bone bead and fragments, and a 
fossil.
    In 1936, human remains representing one individual were excavated 
from site 13AM61, the Woolstrom Cemetery, Allamakee County, 
northeastern Iowa, by Ellison Orr, under the direction of Charles R. 
Keyes. No known individuals were identified. The 15 associated funerary 
objects include a ceramic vessel, an iron fragment, a rolled copper 
tube, and metal ear ornaments.
    In 1936, human remains representing one individual were excavated 
from site 13AM67, Burke's Mound, Allamakee County, northeastern Iowa, 
by Ellison Orr, under the direction of Charles R. Keyes. No known 
individuals were identified. The three associated funerary objects 
include a catlinite pipe, a projectile point, and a fossil. A fourth 
object, a projectile point, was found embedded in the sternum of the 
individual. It is unlikely to have been placed intentionally with the 
individual at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or 
ceremony. For the purpose of this notice, it is considered to be an 
intrinsic part of the human remains.
    In 1936, human remains representing three individuals were 
excavated from site 13AM86, Hog Back Mound Group, Allamakee County, 
northeastern Iowa, by Ellison Orr, under the direction of Charles R. 
Keyes. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1934, human remains representing one individual were excavated 
from site 13AM104, Lane Farm Mounds, Allamakee County, northeastern 
Iowa, by Ellison Orr, under the direction of Charles R. Keyes. No known 
individuals were identified. The five associated funerary objects are 
Oneota pottery fragments.
    In 1934 and 1936, human remains representing three individuals were 
excavated from site 13AM108, New Galena Mounds, Allamakee County, 
northeastern Iowa, by Ellison Orr, under the direction of Charles R. 
Keyes. No known individuals were identified. The 46 associated funerary 
objects include projectile points, other chipped stone tools, ground 
stone tools, flaking debris, a modified bone pipe, a shell awl, and a 
copper snake ornament.
    In 1935, human remains representing two individuals were given to 
Charles R. Keyes by a collector, Lee Maiers. Mr. Maiers reportedly had 
removed these remains from site 21FA2, James Vosburg Gravel Pit, 
southern Minnesota, at an unknown date. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains and associated funerary objects included in this 
notice were either recovered from excavations undertaken by Charles R. 
Keyes and Ellison Orr in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota between 
1934 and 1936, or are part of collections that were given to Keyes. The 
remains now form part of the Charles R. Keyes Archaeological 
Collection. Based on archaeological, ethnohistorical, and biological 
evidence, historical maps, and similarities in material culture and 
manner of interment, the sites and remains have been identified as 
belonging to the Oneota and date to the 13th to 17th century. The Iowa 
and

[[Page 55044]]

Otoe-Missouria peoples have been culturally affiliated with the Oneota 
based on continuities of material culture and historical documents. 
Oral history evidence presented by representatives of the Iowa Tribe of 
Kansas and Nebraska, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Otoe-Missouria 
Tribe of Oklahoma further indicates Oneota 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 43 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 277 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 Iowa State Historical Society 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 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 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 October 12, 
2000. Repatriation of these human remains and associated funerary 
objects to 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. 00-23380 Filed 9-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F