[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7938-7939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2320]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Nebraska State 
Historical Society, Lincoln, NE

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 Nebraska State Historical Society, 
Lincoln, NE.
    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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by Nebraska State Historical Society professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Omaha Tribe of 
Nebraska.
    Prior to 1908, human remains representing one individual, 
consisting of a skull and mandible, were donated to the Nebraska State 
Historical Society by U.S. Marshall J. H. Thrasher of Plattsmouth, NE. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Museum documentation that describes the human remains as ``skull 
and lower jaw of an Indian (Omaha) killed with a club in 1860'' 
indicates that the human remains are Native American and culturally 
affiliated with the Omaha Tribe.
    In 1968, a burial ossuary was discovered at Site 25TS12 during road 
construction in Thurston County, NE. Human remains representing a 
minimum of five individuals were recovered from the site by Nebraska 
State Historical Society archeologist Gayle Carlson. With the exception 
of one bone fragment, the human remains were repatriated to the Omaha 
Tribe

[[Page 7939]]

that year. The bone fragment represents one individual and is in the 
possession of the Nebraska State Historical Society. No known 
individual was identified. The 21 associated funerary objects are white 
quartzite debitage, red ochre fragments, a shell bead, unmodified fresh 
water mussel shell fragments, and a polished fresh water mussel shell 
fragment.
    The manner of interment, material culture, and the site location 
indicate that the human remains are Native American and culturally 
affiliated with the Omaha Tribe.
    In 1970, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were recovered from Site 25AP32, Antelope County, NE. Nebraska State 
Historical Society staff archaeologist Gayle Carlson collected material 
recovered by a private individual who had notified the historical 
society of the site; Mr. Carlson also excavated material at the edge of 
earlier digging at Site 25AP32 by the owner. No known individuals were 
identified. The 13 associated funerary objects are a French long arm 
escutcheon, a bison rib wrench, sandstone shaft smoothers, a flake of 
chalcedony, a small grooved hammer, silt stone, a blue glass bead, and 
a chert flake.
    Cranial measurements, material culture, and site location indicate 
that these human remains are Native American and culturally affiliated 
with the Omaha Tribe. The remains of one individual include 
approximately 80 bone fragments. The remains of the second individual 
include approximately 50 bone fragments and a skull fragment. The two 
remains represent an individual male aged 40-49 years at death and a 
child aged 3.5-5 years at death.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Nebraska 
State Historical Society have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of four individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Nebraska State Historical Society also have determined that, pursuant 
to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 34 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 Nebraska State Historical Society 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 
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Omaha Tribe of 
Nebraska. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains should 
contact Rob Bozell, Associate Director, Nebraska State Historical 
Society, 1500 R Street, P.O. Box 82554, Lincoln, NE 68501-2554, 
telephone (402) 471-4789, before February 26, 2001. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Omaha Tribe of 
Nebraska may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: January 19, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-2320 Filed 1-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F