[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11042-11043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4301]


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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 American 
Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

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 American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY.
    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 American 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas; the Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; 
the Catawba Indian Nation; the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; the Chickasaw 
Nation, Oklahoma; the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana; the Choctaw Nation 
of Oklahoma; the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; the Eastern Band of 
Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; the Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; the Mississippi Band of 
Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; 
the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of Alabama; the Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma; the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, 
Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; 
the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana; the Tuscarora Nation of 
New York; and the United

[[Page 11043]]

Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.
    In an unknown year, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were collected by an unknown collector. Museum records 
indicate that the remains were found in the vicinity of Shreveport, 
possibly ``Caddo Parish?'' or ``Bossier Parish?,'' LA. The American 
Museum of Natural History acquired these human remains as either a 
purchase or a gift from C.C. Jones, Jr., in 1877. The museum does not 
have information on how Mr. Jones, Jr., acquired these human remains. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    This individual has been identified as a Native American, based on 
geographic, biological, and consultation evidence. Geographic, 
archeological, and biological evidence further suggests that these 
human remains are likely culturally affiliated with the Caddo Indian 
Tribe of Oklahoma. This individual exhibits a type of artificial 
cranial deformation (typically frontal and fronto-occipital) that is 
seen in many documented pre-contact Caddoan sites and is associated 
with the pre-contact development of Caddoan culture around A.D. 800. It 
is generally accepted that Caddoan peoples introduced artifical cranial 
deformation to Louisiana. Representatives of the Caddo Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma, in consultation with American Museum of Natural History 
staff, included Caddo and Bossier Parishes in their aboriginal 
territory.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the American 
Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of a minimum of one individual of Native American ancestry. Officials 
of the American Museum of Natural History also 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 the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Alabama-Coushatta 
Tribes of Texas; the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma; the Caddo 
Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; the Catawba Indian Nation; the Cherokee 
Nation, Oklahoma; the Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; the Chitimacha Tribe 
of Louisiana; the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; the Coushatta Tribe of 
Louisiana; the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; the 
Kialegee Tribal Town, Oklahoma; the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of 
Florida; the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi; the 
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma; the Poarch Band of Creek Indians of 
Alabama; the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; the Seminole Tribe of 
Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations; 
the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Oklahoma; the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe 
of Louisiana; the Tuscarora Nation of New York; and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains should contact Martha Graham, Director of 
Cultural Resources, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park 
West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192, telephone (212) 769-5846, 
before March 23, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains to the Caddo 
Indian Tribe of Oklahoma may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.

    Dated: January 29, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources, Stewardship, and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-4301 Filed 2-20-01; 8:45 am]
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