[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77907-77908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31658]


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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 Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of 
Louisiana; the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; the Jena Band of Choctaw 
Indians; and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi.
    In 1941, human remains representing six individuals were removed 
during excavations at Nick's Place (16AV004), Avoyelles Parish, LA, by 
Robert S. Nietzel. Mr. Neitzel donated the remains and objects to the 
Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science in 1941. No known 
individuals were identified. The 363 associated funerary objects are 
Euroamerican bracelets, rings, glass beads, textiles, shell fragments, 
gun flints, lead shot, iron nails, and iron nail fragments. 
Unassociated funerary objects also were removed during these 
excavations.
    Nick's Place consists of a conical mound near the eastern 
escarpment of the Marksville prairie, about a mile south of Marksville, 
LA. The human remains and funerary objects described here were removed 
from intrusive historic-age burials into the mound. The associated 
funerary objects date the burials to the late 18th or early 19th 
centuries. Archeological evidence and characteristics of the mortuary 
program culturally affiliate the remains with the Choctaw. Oral history 
evidence indicates that the Choctaw population occupying Nick's Place 
during the 18th and 19th centuries were absorbed into the Tunica-Biloxi 
Tribe.
    In 1934-1935, human remains representing one individual were 
removed from the Angola Farm Site (16WF002), West Feliciana Parish, LA, 
by James Ford. The Angola Farm Site is currently on the grounds of the 
Louisiana State Penitentiary. The remains and objects were removed from 
``Burial 7.'' Dr. Ford donated these remains and objects to the 
Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science in 1935 and 1939. 
No known individual was identified. The 11 associated funerary objects 
are an aboriginal pot, an iron spike, gun parts, gun flints, and iron 
nails. Funerary objects interred with individuals whose remains are not 
present in Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science 
collections also were removed during these excavations.
    The Angola Farm Site is an historic cemetery located below the 
bluffs on the eastern side of the Mississippi River. The burial was 
removed from a filled stream channel at the site. Archeological and 
historic evidence indicate that the site was a small Tunica village and 
cemetery occupied 1706-1731.
    Based on archeological evidence, the human remains and objects from 
the two sites described above date to the post-European contact period 
in the late 17th-early 19th centuries. Historical documentation and 
oral history indicate that the sites were occupied either by Tunica 
groups or by groups that were absorbed into the Tunica-Biloxi Indian 
Tribe of Louisiana. The geographical location of these sites during 
this time period is consistent with the known traditional territory of 
the Tunica-Biloxi people.
    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 seven individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural 
Science also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 
374 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 Tunica-Biloxi 
Indian Tribe of Louisiana; the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; the Jena 
Band of Choctaw Indians; and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 
Mississippi.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Tunica-Biloxi Indian 
Tribe of Louisiana; the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; the Jena Band of 
Choctaw Indians; and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 
Mississippi. 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 Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of 
Louisiana; the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; the Jena Band of Choctaw 
Indians; and the Mississippi Band of

[[Page 77908]]

Choctaw Indians, Mississippi 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. 00-31658 Filed 12-12-00 ; 8:45 am]
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