[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55041-55042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23381]


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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 Kansas and Nebraska in the 
Possession of the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS

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 from Kansas and Nebraska in the possession of the 
Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS.
    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 Kansas State 
Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
    During the late 1980's, human remains representing one individual 
were recovered from the Minneapolis site (14OT5), Ottawa County, KS by 
Mr. Harold Reed, a local artifact collector. In 1990, Mr. Reed donated 
these human remains to the Kansas State Historical Society. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on the reported archeological context, this individual has 
been identified as Native American. Based on material culture, 
geographic location, and radiocarbon dates, the Minneapolis site has 
been identified as a Smoky Hill Aspect (Central Plains Tradition) 
occupation dating from approximately A.D. 1250. Based on temporal 
position, geographic location, and continuities of material culture, 
the Smoky Hill Aspect has been identified as ancestral to the Pawnee 
Nation of Oklahoma.
    In 1978, human remains representing three individuals were 
recovered from site 14SD350, Sheridan County, KS during excavations 
conducted by a Kansas State Historical Society archeologist. No known 
individuals

[[Page 55042]]

were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on archeological context, these individuals have been 
identified as Native American. Based on material culture and geographic 
location, site 14SD350 has been identified as an Upper Republican 
Aspect (Central Plains Tradition) occupation dating from approximately 
A.D. 1250. Based on temporal position, geographic location, and 
continuities of material culture, the Upper Republican Aspect has been 
identified as ancestral to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
    In 1960, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
from the Ringneck site (14LC302), Lincoln County, KS during legally 
authorized excavations conducted by Kansas State Historical Society 
archeologists. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Based on archeological context, these individuals have been 
identified as Native American. Based on material culture and geographic 
location, the Ringneck site has been identified as an Upper Republican 
Aspect (Central Plains Tradition) habitation dating from approximately 
A.D. 1250. Based on temporal position, geographic location, and 
continuities of material culture, the Upper Republican Aspect has been 
identified as ancestral to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
    In 1971, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
Kansas State Historical Society by Guy Whiteford who reportedly 
recovered these human remains during excavations at site 14SA412, 
Saline County, KS. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Based on the reported archeological context, this individual has 
been identified as Native American. Based on material culture and 
geographic location, site 14SA412 has been identified as a Smoky Hill 
Aspect (Central Plains Tradition) habitation dating from approximately 
A.D. 1250. Based on temporal position, geographic location, and 
continuities of material culture, the Smoky Hill Aspect has been 
identified as ancestral to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
    In 1999, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
Kansas State Historical Society by a forensic osteologist. The 
osteologist received these human remains from a representative of the 
Abilene High School, Abilene, KS. No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    Abilene High School records indicate that these are the remains of 
a Pawnee individual excavated in 1925 from the Guide Rock, NE area. 
Based on forensic analysis, this individual has been identified as 
Native American. Based on the available documentation, this individual 
has been further identified as Pawnee.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Kansas 
State Historical Society have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of eight individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Kansas 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 
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 human 
remains should contact Randall M. Thies, Archeologist, Kansas State 
Historical Society, 6425 Southwest Sixth Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, 
telephone (785) 272-8681, extension 267, before October 12, 2000. 
Repatriation of the human remains 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. 00-23381 Filed 9-11-00; 8:45 am]
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