[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50674-50675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24932]


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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 New York State 
Museum, Albany, 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

[[Page 50675]]

(NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, of the completion of an inventory of human 
remains and associated funerary objects in the possession of the New 
York State Museum, Albany, 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 New York 
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians.
    In 1969, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Coffin site (NYSM Site Number 1304), Easton 
Township, Washington County, NY, located on the eastern floodplain of 
the Hudson River. Excavations were conducted by New York State Museum 
staff. Although the site was a habitation site, a single burial was 
encountered in a storage pit. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Field records and descriptions of the site indicate that all 
excavated features originated in the Oak Hill Phase Late Woodland 
occupation of the site, dated to circa A.D. 1300-1400. The Oak Hill 
phase is part of a developmental continuum attributed to Algonkian 
speakers. The site is within the historically-known aboriginal homeland 
of the Mohicans.
    Between 1954 and 1974, human remains representing a minimum of 39 
individuals were recovered from the Menands Bridge site (NYSM Site 
Number 1361), located on the alluvial flats west of the Hudson River, 
Menands, Colonie Township, Albany County, NY. Salvage excavations were 
conducted by New York State Museum staff and local avocational 
archaeologists R. Arthur Johnson and C. S. Sundler. No known 
individuals were identified. The three associated funerary objects are 
two rounded pebbles and a soil sample from one burial.
    Field records, diagnostic artifacts, a radiocarbon date, and 
descriptions of the site indicate that most of the burials were 
interred during the Late Woodland period, circa A.D. 1275-1400. Based 
on the archaeological evidence and the geographic location of the 
Menands Bridge site within the historically known aboriginal homeland 
of the Mohican, human remains and associated funerary objects from the 
Menands Bridge site are most likely to be culturally affiliated with 
the Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the New York 
State Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the 
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of 40 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the New York 
State Museum have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2), 
the three 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 
New York State Museum 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 Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Stockbridge Munsee 
Band of Mohican Indians. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should contact Lisa M. Anderson, NAGPRA 
Coordinator, New York State Museum, 3122 CEC, Albany, NY 12230, 
telephone (518) 474-5813, before November 5, 2001. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Stockbridge Munsee 
Band of Mohican Indians may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.

    Dated: June 14, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-24932 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F