[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63887-63888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27397]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service.


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of The State Museum 
of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service.

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 Museum of Pennsylvania, 
Harrisburg, PA.
    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 State 
Museum of Pennsylvania professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma.
    At an unknown time, human remains representing 29 individuals and 
53 associated funerary objects were removed during excavations at the 
Wyandotte Town Site (also known as the West Pittsburg Site) (36Lr1), 
Taylor Township, Lawrence County, PA by Marco Hervatin. Mr. Hervatin 
donated the remains and objects to The State Museum of Pennsylvania in 
1961. No known individuals were identified. The associated funerary 
objects include buckskin leather fragments, unidentified organic 
material, brass rings, shell beads, and miscellaneous iron fragments 
with wood attached.
    The Euroamerican assemblage of objects found with the remains dates 
the burials to the 18th century. Ethnohistoric, documentary, and 
archeological evidence indicates that the Wyandotte Town Site was 
occupied by the Wyandotte Indians between A.D. 1747-1750. There is no 
evidence to contradict this.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of The State 
Museum of Pennsylvania have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of 29 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of The State 
Museum of Pennsylvania also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(2), the 53 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 Museum of Pennsylvania 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 Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Wyandotte 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 Stephen G. Warfel, Senior 
Curator, Archaeology, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North 
Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0024, telephone (717) 783-2887, before 
November 24, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma; may begin after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.


[[Page 63888]]


    Dated: October 16, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-27397 Filed 10-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F