[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 191 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58795-58796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25254]


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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 10.2 
(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, 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 Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort 
Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.
    In 1934 and 1939, human remains representing 10 Mill Creek 
individuals were excavated from site 13PM1, Broken Kettle, Plymouth 
County, northwestern Iowa, by Ellison Orr, under the direction of 
Charles R. Keyes. No known individuals were identified. The 89 
associated funerary objects include clamshells, pottery fragments, a 
chert flake, and a fire-cracked rock.
    In 1939, human remains representing nine individuals were excavated 
from the Kimball site, 13PM4, Plymouth County, northwestern 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 six individuals were excavated 
from site 13PM127, Ossuary 2, Plymouth County, northwestern Iowa, by 
Ellison Orr, under the direction of Charles R. Keyes. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The human remains and associated funerary objects included in this 
notice were recovered from excavations undertaken by Charles R. Keyes 
and Ellison Orr in northwestern Iowa between 1934 and 1939. They now 
form part of the Charles R. Keyes Archaeological Collection. Based on 
archeological and biological evidence, and similarities in material 
culture, these sites and remains have been identified as belonging, or 
probably belonging, to the Mill Creek cultural group that occupied this 
area in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Mandan and Hidatsa peoples are 
believed to be possibly culturally affiliated with the Mill Creek based 
on tenuous continuities of material culture and historical documents.
    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 25 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 89 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

[[Page 58796]]

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 
Mandan and Hidatsa tribes, members of the Three Affiliated Tribes of 
the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Three Affiliated 
Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota. 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 November 1, 2000. Repatriation of 
these human remains and associated funerary objects to the Three 
Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota may 
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: September 19, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-25254 Filed 9-29-00; 8:45 am]
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