[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50675-50676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24933]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Human Remains and Associated 
Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

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 an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects in the 
possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard 
University, Cambridge, MA.
    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 Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians 
of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California.
    In 1875, human remains representing 110 individuals were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the Smithsonian 
Institution. The human remains were accessioned into the Peabody Museum 
of Archaeology and Ethnology the same year. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum records indicate that these remains were collected by Paul 
Schumacher in 1875 as part of a joint expedition of the Peabody Museum 
of Archaeology and Ethnology and the Smithsonian Institution. The 
remains were collected from unknown sites on San Miguel Island and 
Santa Cruz Island, CA.
    Archeological investigations have identified a cultural continuity 
for the Chumash Indians that traces their presence on the northern 
Channel Islands back 7,000 to 9,000 years. Geographical, archeological, 
and oral history evidence indicate a shared group identity between 
these human remains from San Miguel Island and Santa Cruz Island, CA, 
and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation, California, the present-day tribe most closely associated 
with the prehistoric and historic Chumash Indians.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above are reasonably 
believed to be the physical remains of 110 individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the Peabody

[[Page 50676]]

Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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 human remains and the Santa 
Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, 
California.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Santa Ynez Band of 
Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains should contact Barbara 
Isaac, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 
495-2254, before November 5, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains to 
the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation, California 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. 01-24933 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
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