[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77905-77907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31657]


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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 Louisiana 
State University Museum of Natural Science, Baton Rouge, LA

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 Louisiana State University 
Museum of Natural Science, Baton Rouge, LA.
    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 Louisiana 
State University Museum of Natural Science professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Caddo Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma.
    Between 1936-1954, human remains representing 46 individuals were 
removed during excavations at the Belcher Mounds Site (LSUMNS Site 
Number 16CD013), Caddo Parish, LA, by Clarence H. Webb. Dr. Webb 
donated these remains and objects to the Louisiana State University 
Museum of Natural Science in 1974. No known individuals were 
identified. The 32 associated funerary objects are earthenware pottery, 
a ceramic spindle whorl and hair ornament, shell artifacts including a 
shell necklace, and a stone celt. Unassociated funerary objects from 
the Belcher Mounds Site at the Louisiana State University Museum of 
Natural Science will be reported separately in a Notice of Intent to 
Repatriate.
    The Belcher Site is a dual mound and habitation site that 
functioned as a ceremonial center and cemetery between circa A.D. 900-
1700. Twenty-four of the individuals excavated by Dr. Webb were buried 
between circa A.D. 900 and 1400. Twenty-two of these individuals were 
buried between circa A.D. 1500 and 1700. The mortuary practices and 
ceramic styles indicate site affiliations with Caddoan culture.
    In 1935, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from the Ida Site (LSUMNS Site Number 16CD025), Caddo Parish, LA, 
during salvage excavations associated with highway construction by 
Clarence H. Webb. At an unknown date, Dr. Webb donated these remains to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, MA, along with remains from the Gahagan Mounds Site. At an 
unknown date, remains from the Ida Site were transferred from the 
Peabody Museum to the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural 
Science. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science records 
indicate that earthenware pottery collected from the surface of the Ida 
Site is dated to between circa A.D. 1200 and 1400, and perhaps earlier 
as well, on the basis of surface decoration. Stylistic attributes of 
the pottery affiliate the site with Caddo Indians.
    In 1935, Clarence H. Webb removed human remains representing two 
individuals during excavations at the Smithport Landing Site (LSUMNS 
Site Number 16DS004), De Soto Parish, LA. The same year, Dr. Webb 
donated these remains and objects to the Louisiana State University 
Museum of Natural History. No known individuals were identified. The 
two associated funerary objects consist of two ceramic vessels. 
Unassociated funerary objects from the Smithport Landing Site in the 
Louisiana State University Museum will be reported separately in a 
Notice of Intent to Repatriate.
    Smithport Landing is a non-mound burial site. The stylistic 
attributes of the associated funerary objects date the burials to circa 
A.D. 1000-1300. These attributes culturally affiliate the interred with 
Caddo Indians.
    In 1937-1938, human remains representing two individuals were 
removed during salvage excavations by James Ford at the Hogg Place Site 
(LSUMNS Site Number 16LI003), Lincoln Parish, LA. Dr. Ford donated the 
remains and the object to the Louisiana State University Museum of 
Natural Science in 1938. No known individuals were identified. The one 
associated funerary object is an incised ceramic vessel.
    The Hogg Place Site was a village and associated cemetery. The 
observed mortuary treatment of the remains is typical of the Caddo 
culture. The Plaquemine influence seen in the

[[Page 77906]]

incised Caddo vessel suggests an interment between A.D. 1200-1700.
    At an unknown time prior to 1985, human remains representing two 
individuals were donated to the Louisiana State University Museum of 
Natural Science by an unknown donor. The remains were removed from the 
Hampton Place Site (LSUMNS Site Number 16NA000), Natchitoches Parish, 
LA, by an unknown person, possibly Clarence H. Webb. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The determination of cultural affiliation with the Caddo tribe is 
based on geographic location and knowledge of Dr. Webb's research 
focus.
    Between 1933-1935, human remains representing one individual was 
removed during excavations at the Wilkinson Place Site (LSUMNS Site 
Number 16NA003), Natchitoches Parish, LA, by James Ford. Dr. Ford 
donated the remains to the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural 
Science in the late 1930's. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Euroamerican objects placed with other burials at the site indicate 
that the mortuary use of the Wilkinson Place site dates to the 
historical period. Previous research suggests that the site is 
affiliated with the Yatasi, a Caddoan group once centered along the Red 
River near Shreveport, LA. This group moved southward during the 
historic period and consolidated with the Kaddohadacho circa 1830. The 
Kaddohadacho are an historically documented group ancestral to the 
Caddo.
    In 1936 or 1937, human remains representing one individual were 
removed during excavations at the Allen Place Site (LSUMNS Site Number 
16NA004), Natchitoches Parish, LA, by James Ford. Dr. Ford donated the 
remains to the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science in 
the late 1930's. No known individuals were identified. The 95 
associated funerary objects are a necklace made of glass beads and a 
tubular jasper bead. Unassociated funerary objects in the Louisiana 
State University Museum from the Allen Place Site will be reported 
separately in a Notice of Intent to Repatriate.
    The Euroamerican glass beads found with this burial and 
Euroamerican objects found with other burials excavated by Dr. Ford but 
not donated to this museum suggest that the Allen Place Site was 
utilized during the historic period.
    In 1970, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from the Fish Hatchery Site (LSUMNS Site Number 16NA009), Natchitoches 
Parish, LA, and donated to the Louisiana State Museum of Natural 
Science by Robert Neuman. Mr. Neuman collected the remains from the 
surface of the site. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Material culture and human remains discovered during salvage 
excavations associated with construction of a U.S. Bureau of Fisheries 
fish hatchery in 1931 indicate that there was an extensive mortuary 
component dating to A.D. post-1700 at the Fish Hatchery Site.
    In 1946, human remains representing three individuals were removed 
during salvage excavations associated with facility construction at the 
Southern Compress and Oil Mill Site (LSUMNS Site Number 16NA014), 
Natchitoches Parish, LA, by Clarence H. Webb. Dr. Webb donated these 
remains to the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science as 
part of a larger collection. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Other burials excavated at the Southern Compress and Oil Mill Site, 
but not donated to the museum, contained Euroamerican and Native 
American objects dating to the A.D. mid-1700's.
    In 1972, human remains representing one individual were removed 
during excavations at the Lake Rodemacher Site (LSUMNS Site Number 
16RA021), Rapides Parish, LA, by John House. Mr. House donated these 
remains to the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural History the 
same year. No known individuals were identified. No funerary objects 
are present.
    The Lake Rodemacher Site occupation dates to A.D. 1100-1500, as 
determined by the excavator.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing eight individuals 
removed from the Gahagan Mounds Site (LSUMNS Site Number 16RR001), Red 
River Parish, LA, were donated to the Louisiana State University Museum 
of Natural Science by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. The remains were part of multiple 
burials removed during excavations of ``Burial Pit 1'' and ``Burial Pit 
2'' by Clarence H. Webb in 1939. No known individuals were identified.
    In 1972, three associated funerary objects removed from ``Burial 
Pit 1'' and/or ``Burial Pit 2'' at the Gahagan Mound Site (LSUMNS Site 
Number 16RR001) were donated to the Louisiana State University Museum 
of Natural Science by Clarence Webb. These objects were removed during 
the same 1939 excavations as the human remains. The three associated 
funerary objects are a Hayes-style projectile point, a Catahoulan-style 
projectile point, and a Reed-style projectile point.
    Mortuary practices and stylistic attributes of the associated 
funerary objects indicate that the Gahagan Mound Site was utilized 
circa A.D. 900-1200.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing two individuals were 
removed from LSUMNS Site Number 16RR002, an unnamed site in Red River 
Parish, LA, by an unknown person, but who was possibly Clarence H. 
Webb. Dr. Webb donated these remains as part of a larger collection to 
the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science in 1974. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The determination of cultural affiliation with the Caddo tribe is 
based on geographic location and knowledge of Dr. Webb's research 
focus.
    In 1960, human remains representing three individuals were removed 
during salvage excavations associated with road construction at the 
Cedar Bluff Site (LSUMNS Site Number 16WN001), Winn Parish, LA, by 
William Haag. Mr. Haag donated these remains to the Louisiana State 
University Museum of Natural Science the same year. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Mr. Haag noted diagnostic Caddo sherds on the surface of the site. 
While not definitive, the sherds suggest an occupation sometime between 
A.D. 900-1700, which is the occupation span of Caddo culture in the 
area. No more precise dates are available.
    Historical evidence and oral history indicate that northwest 
Louisiana is part of the traditional territory of the Caddo people. 
Archeological evidence indicates that settlements within this region 
exhibit a cultural continuity dating from circa A.D. 900 and continuing 
into the historic period. In the historic period these stylistic 
attributes are associated with the Caddo people. Based on 
archeological, historical and oral history evidence, the 13 sites 
reported above are identified with the Caddoan culture.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, Louisiana State 
University Museum of Natural Science officials have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of 73 individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural 
Science also have determined

[[Page 77907]]

that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 133 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 Louisiana State University Museum of 
Natural Science 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 Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Caddo Indian 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 Dr. Rebecca Saunders, 
Assistant Curator of Anthropology, Louisiana State Museum of Natural 
Science, 119 Foster Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, telephone (225) 578-
6562, before January 12, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma may 
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: November 30, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources, Stewardship, and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-31657 Filed 12-12-00 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F