[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70363-70364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29834]


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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 Peabody Museum 
of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

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 Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
    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 Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big 
Valley Rancheria, California.
    In 1908, human remains representing one individual were collected 
by Grace A. Nicholson, and donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology by Lewis H. Farlow. This individual has been identified 
as Captain Posh-ka of the Kuh-lah-na-pi Tribe of Pomo Indians. The 115 
associated funerary objects are 10 lots of shell beads, 10 stone beads, 
30 clam shells, 5 stone chips, 9 stone knives, 5 bone fragments, 3 
ceramic fragments, 29 buttons, 9 nails, 3 metal toy fragments, and 2 
obsidian fragments.
    Museum records indicate that the gravesite of Captain Posh-ka was 
located near Kelseyville, Lake County, CA. In 1906, in an effort to 
salvage it from road construction, the grave was excavated by Wiliam 
Benson, a Pomo contact of Ms. Nicholson and a nephew of Captain Posh-
ka. According to Mr. Benson, Captain Posh-ka was buried in 1870, a date 
consistent with the types of associated funerary objects. The Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and representatives of the Big 
Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria, California 
have been unable to identify lineal descendents of Captain Posh-ka, and 
Ms. Nicholson's notes indicate that he had no children.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the 
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology also have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 115 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 Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(e), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be 
reasonably traced between the remains of Captain Posh-ka and associated 
funerary objects and the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big

[[Page 70364]]

Valley Rancheria, California. This notice has been sent to officials of 
the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria, 
California and the Lake County Intertribal NAGPRA Consortium. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Barbara Isaac, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 
02138, telephone (617) 495-2254, before December 22, 2000. Repatriation 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Big Valley 
Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria, California may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: November 2, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-29834 Filed 11-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F