[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50677-50679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24930]


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

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 Williamson 
Museum, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Natchitoches, LA, 
and in the Control of the Louisiana Division of Archaeology, Baton 
Rouge, LA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

[[Page 50678]]


ACTION: Notice.

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

    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 Williamson Museum, 
Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Natchitoches, LA, and in 
the control of the Louisiana Division of Archaeology, 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 the 
Williamson Museum, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, and 
Louisiana Division of Archaeology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In the 1960s, human remains representing one individual were 
excavated from the Mineral Springs site (3HO1), Howard County, AR, by 
Dr. Clarence H. Webb, who donated the remains to the Louisiana Division 
of Archaeology. The remains are curated at the Williamson Museum, 
Northwestern State University of Louisiana. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The Mineral Springs site was a precontact settlement, dating to 
approximately A.D. 1300-1500, with some evidence for an earlier 
preceramic occupation of unknown age. Archeological research was 
conducted at the site between the 1920s and the 1960s and several 
publications have documented the collections, features, and burials. 
The information available on the human remains from Mineral Springs is 
insufficient to determine their exact provenience or age. The 
archeological evidence from the site, especially the ceramics, 
architecture, and mortuary patterns, demonstrates that this site was 
occupied by people of the ancient Caddoan culture found in the Red 
River Basin.
    In the 1950s, human remains representing one individual were 
recovered from the Marston site (16RR1), Red River Parish, LA, by Dr. 
Clarence H. Webb, who donated the remains to the Louisiana Division of 
Archaeology. The remains are curated at the Williamson Museum, 
Northwestern State University of Louisiana. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The remains were taken from an eroded area near the levee at the 
site. The Marston site is a Caddo I-II period site and the artifacts 
collected at the site suggest that the site dates to A.D. 1200-1500.
    In 1941, human remains representing three individuals were 
recovered from the Lawton Gin site, Natchitoches Parish, LA, by Dr. 
Clarence H. Webb, who donated the remains to the Louisiana Division of 
Archaeology. The remains are curated at the Williamson Museum, 
Northwestern State University of Louisiana. No known individuals were 
identified. The 52 associated funerary objects are 47 glass beads, 3 
Natchitoches Engraved bowls, 1 Keno Trailed bottle, and 1 Emory 
Incised-Punctated bowl.
    The remains were taken from a pit for a cotton weighing scales at 
the site. The cultural context of the site is described below.
    In the 1940s, human remains representing four individuals were 
recovered from the Southern Oil Mill and Compress site, Natchitoches 
Parish, LA, by Dr. Clarence H. Webb, Michael Beckman, and Robert Scott, 
who donated the remains to the Louisiana Division of Archaeology. The 
remains are curated at the Williamson Museum, Northwestern State 
University of Louisiana. No known individuals were identified. The 45 
associated funerary objects are 40 glass beads, 1 Emory Punctated-
Incised bowl, 1 plain (shell-tempered) bowl, 1 brass bracelet, 1 
fragmentary iron and bead bracelet, and 1 iron bracelet.
    These remains were taken from excavations for road construction. 
The Lawton Gin site and the Southern Oil Mill and Compress site are 
postcontact sites, dating to the 1700s. During consultations, the 
representatives of the Caddo Tribe identified these remains as Caddo 
and agreed that these sites represent the historic Natchitoches tribe. 
The archeological evidence from these and contemporaneous sites was 
used to define the Lawton Phase (A.D. 1714-1800), which has been 
culturally identified to the Natchitoches confederacy of the Caddo. 
Lawton Phase sites cluster around Natchitoches, LA, which was 
established as a French trading post in 1714. While other tribes 
visited the area to trade, the Native American settlements were 
Caddoan. The archeological evidence for the cultural continuity between 
Lawton Phase sites and the Caddo Tribe consists primarily of ceramic 
styles, vessel forms, and geographical locations. The historical record 
includes documentary and cartographic materials describing the 
Natchitoches confederacy of the Caddo Tribe, which lived along the Red 
River near Natchitoches, LA.
    In the 1930s or 1940s, human remains representing one individual 
were excavated from the Belcher Mound site (16CD13), Caddo Parish, LA, 
by Dr. Clarence H. Webb, who donated the remains to the Louisiana 
Division of Archaeology. The remains are curated at the Williamson 
Museum, Northwestern State University of Louisiana. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Between 1936-1954, 312 associated funerary objects were excavated 
from Belcher Mound site by Dr. Clarence H. Webb, who donated the human 
remains associated with these objects to the Louisiana State University 
Museum of Natural Science. The associated funerary objects were donated 
to the Louisiana Division of Archaeology and are curated at the 
Williamson Museum, Northwestern State University of Louisiana. The 312 
associated funerary objects are 1 golden eagle skeleton, 2 animal tooth 
pendants, 61 mussel shell pendants, 3 shell pendants, 9 shell 
zoomorphic pendants, 1 eroded concretion, 3 antler projectile points, 5 
Bassett points, 1 oval hammerstone, 1 deer ulna awl, 1 decorated bone 
disk, 1 bone earspool, 2 bone hair pins, 1 bone labret/ear ornament, 51 
conch columnella beads, 6 small conch shell beads, 25 shell beads, 3 
pearl beads, 27 shell inlays, 2 engraved conch cups, 1 perforated conch 
cup, 15 mussel shell tools, 1 shell hoe, 1 effigy vessel, 1 plain jar, 
1 pottery vessel, 24 Belcher Engraved vessels (7 bottles and 17 bowls), 
2 Belcher Engraved (?) bottles, 16 Hodges Engraved vessels (1 bottle, 1 
compound vessel, 12 bowls, and 2 jars), 1 Sanders Redware bottle, 1 
Wilder Engraved bottle, 6 Avery Engraved bowls, 1 Avery Engraved 
(redware) bowl, 3 Glassell Engraved bowls, 3 Taylor Engraved vessels (2 
bowls and 1 bottle), 1 Crockett Curvilinear Incised jar, 5 Foster 
Trailed vessels (including 4 jars), 1 Hickory Engraved bottle, 1 Karnak 
Brushed-Incised cup, 1 Karnak Brushed jar, 1 Karnak vessel, 9 Belcher 
Ridged vessels (including 2 jars and 5 urns), 7 Cowhide Stamped vessels 
(including 3 jars and 2 urns), 2 Keno Trailed vessels (including 1 
vase), and 1 Smithport Plain vessel.
    The golden eagle skeleton was found with burial 18 at the site, and 
was transferred to the Williamson Museum in 1981. During consultations, 
the Caddo stated that they consider the Belcher Mound site a sacred 
site and,

[[Page 50679]]

consequently, consider these artifacts sacred. The golden eagle remains 
are considered especially sacred, and the Caddo will treat them as 
though they are human remains. The eagle skeleton has not been found to 
be either human remains or sacred under the definitions provided in 
NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2(d).
    Officials of the Williamson Museum, Northwestern State University 
of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Division of Archaeology contacted the 
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
regarding applicability of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Bald 
Eagle Act, the Golden Eagle Act, and the Endangered Species Act. The 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the Louisiana 
Division of Archaeology may transfer the golden eagle remains to the 
culturally affiliated Native American tribe.
    The Belcher Mound site (A.D. 900-1700) is one of the best-
documented Caddo sites, and its material culture sequence has defined 
the Belcher Phase (A.D. 1500-1700). The dating of the site and its 
contemporaries has been documented by radiocarbon dates, 
thermoluminescence dates, and ceramic seriation. The archeological 
evidence for the cultural continuity of Belcher Phase sites and the 
Caddo Tribe includes ceramic styles, vessel forms, geographical 
locations, architecture, and mortuary practices.
    In 1935, 16 associated funerary objects were excavated at Smithport 
Landing, DeSoto Parish, LA, by Dr. Clarence H. Webb, who donated the 
human remains associated with these objects to the Louisiana State 
University Museum of Natural Science. The 16 associated funerary 
objects are 1 sandstone bead, 2 Hickory Engraved bottles, 1 bone bead, 
4 plain vessels (1 bottle, 1 cup, and 2 bowls), 1 pottery bowl, 1 
Punctated Rim bowl, 2 Smithport Plain bowls, 1 Wilkinson/Kiam bowl, 1 
toy pottery bottle, 1 engraved bottle, and 1 Wilkinson Punctated toy 
vessel.
    The Smithport Landing site is a Caddo I period site. Artifact 
styles suggest an Alto-Gahagan Phase (A.D. 900-1200) affiliation for 
this site.
    In 1939-41, 383 associated funerary objects were excavated at 
Gahagan Mound, Red River Parish, LA, by Dr. Clarence H. Webb, who 
donated the human remains associated with these objects to the 
Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science, and have been 
reported in a separate notice. The 383 associated funerary objects are 
1 Hickory Engraved bottle, 1 bottle, 1 ceramic pipe stem fragment, 1 
sandstone frog effigy pipe, 58 Alba points, 9 large Alba points, 13 
Alba and Harrell points, 3 Hayes points, 3 Bayougoula points, 1 Gahagan 
biface, 5 Gahagan biface fragments, 23 Gahagan blade fragments, 8 
points, 8 tan chert points, 1 quartz crystal mass/flakes, 10 antler 
arrow points/awls, 1 conjoined copper tubes (panpipes), 3 copper-
covered wood claw effigies, 1 copper hand effigy, 1 copper-covered bone 
earspool, 3 copper-covered ear ornaments, 1 copper ear ornament, 1 
copper-covered wooden bead, 16 copper sheets or rolls, 1 decorated 
strip of copper, 3 bone earplugs, 1 bone ear ornament, 1 ear ornament, 
3 cog wheel shell ornaments, 1 shell ornament fragment, 10 flat bone 
pins, 1 cruciform flat pin, 2 bone pins, 17 bone pin fragments, 10 
conch columnella beads, 129 marginella shell beads, 3 small sandstone 
hones, 2 white Catahoula sandstone hones, 1 ferruginous sandstone celt, 
1 greenstone celt, 15 hammerstones, 1 hematite mano, 1 hematite 
plummet, 1 hematite slab, 4 galena masses, 1 beaver incisor, and 1 
beaver tooth.
    The Gahagan site is one of the earliest sites to be identified as 
part of the long Caddoan cultural sequence in northwestern Louisiana. 
It is the type site for the Caddo I Alto-Gahagan Phase, which dates to 
A.D. 900-1200.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were recovered from unknown location(s) in Caddo Parish, LA, 
by Dr. Clarence H. Webb, who donated the remains to the Louisiana 
Division of Archaeology. The fragmentary condition of the remains and 
the lack of documentation make it impossible to determine the number of 
individuals. The remains are curated at the Williamson Museum, 
Northwestern State University of Louisiana. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Williamson Museum, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, and the 
Louisiana Division of Archaeology have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of a minimum of 11 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Williamson Museum, Northwestern State University of 
Louisiana, and the Louisiana Division of Archaeology also have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2), the 808 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 Williamson Museum, 
Northwestern State University of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Division 
of Archaeology 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. Pete Gregory, Director, 
Williamson Museum, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, 
Natchitoches, LA 71497, telephone (318) 357-8170, or Dr. Tom Eubanks, 
Louisiana Division of Archaeology, P.O. Box 44247, Baton Rouge, LA 
70804, telephone (504) 342-8170, before November 5, 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: June 19, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-24930 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F