[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51060-51062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24963]


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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 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 the provisions of the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 42 CFR 
10.9, of the completion 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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Cayuga 
Nation of New York; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of 
Indians, Oklahoma; Oneida Nation of New York; Oneida Tribe of 
Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation of New York; St. Regis Band of Mohawk 
Indians of New York; Seneca Nation of New York; Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin; 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York; Tuscarora Nation of New 
York; and the nonfederally recognized Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs.
    In 1886, human remains representing five individuals were donated 
to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by W.W. Adams. 
Museum documentation indicates that in 1886, two of these individuals 
were recovered by Mr. Adams from the St. Joseph site in Union Springs, 
NY. According to museum documentation, Mr. Adams recovered three other 
individuals from Cayuga County, NY, the same year, but there is no 
additional provenience information available for these remains. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Museum information indicates that the interments from the St. 
Joseph site most likely date to the Late Woodland period (A.D. 1000-
1600). Artifacts recovered from the site, but not associated with the 
burials, are stylistically indicative of the Late Woodland period. 
These objects include stone mortars and ceramics of typical Iroquoian 
designs. The location of copper staining on the human remains suggests 
the use of a shroud pin, and it is therefore likely that these 
interments date to the Contact or Historic period (post-A.D. 1500).
    In 1889, human remains representing 21 individuals were recovered 
from Avon, NY, by F.W. Putnam, who donated the remains to the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology the same year. No known individuals 
were identified. The 592 associated funerary objects include copper, 
glass, shell, and catlinite beads; ceramic sherds and vessels; wooden 
knife handle fragments; animal bones and teeth, including bird bones 
and a portion of a tortoise carapace rim; chipped chert; hematite; a 
tomahawk; iron knives, an iron point, and iron fragments; pewter 
implements; a brass kettle; sheet brass; a copper-plated iron bell; 
sheet copper; copper ornaments; a shell pendant; a textile fragment; a 
piece of lead; and a fossil.
    Documentary records in the possession of the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology indicate that these remains came from a 
series of excavations led by Mr. Putnam at burial locations in Avon. 
The exact locations of these excavations are not documented, although 
two specific sites, the Brush Creek and Fort Hill sites, are described 
in the field notebook. Museum documentation indicates that the Fort 
Hill site was located on Anson Miller's farm. It is likely that these 
two sites are adjacent to each other, possibly separated by Brush 
Creek. The sites are thought to be located in the vicinity of the 
Bosley Mill site along Route 15, near Trip Hammer Road, in the 
southeastern section of Avon. More precise provenience information is 
not available. Museum information indicates that interments from the 
sites most likely date to the Historic period (post-A.D. 1700).

[[Page 51061]]

Artifacts recovered with the burials date from the 17th and 18th 
centuries. The lack of a fortified village enclosure and the dispersed 
settlement pattern further suggest that the remains were interred after 
1675.
    In 1889, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Anson Miller. Museum 
documentation indicates that Mr. Miller recovered these remains, 
probably the same year, from Avon, NY. No known individual was 
identified. The 25 associated funerary objects include parts of 2 
ceramic vessels.
    Documentary records in the possession of the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology indicate that these remains came from the 
same area as a series of excavations led by F.W. Putnam at burial 
locations in Avon in 1889, and that the remains are from the (Anson) 
Miller's Farm site. These burial sites are thought to be located in the 
vicinity of the Bosley Mill site along Route 15, near Trip Hammer Road, 
in the southeastern section of Avon. Museum information indicates that 
interments from this series of sites most likely date to the Historic 
period (post-A.D. 1700). The lack of a fortified village enclosure and 
the dispersed settlement pattern further suggest that the remains were 
interred after 1675.
    In 1896, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
near Buffalo, NY, during a Peabody Museum expedition led by F.W. 
Putnam. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that these remains were recovered 
from a village site near Buffalo. This interment most likely dates to 
the Contact period (A.D. 1500-1700). Although no artifacts are known to 
be associated with the remains, other artifacts recovered from the site 
date to the early Contact period. These objects include fragments of 
brass and copper sheeting and triangular stone projectile points.
    In 1903, human remains representing 122 individuals were recovered 
from Brant, NY, during a Peabody Museum expedition led by M.R. 
Harrington and A.C. Parker. No known individuals were identified. The 
1,478 associated funerary objects include charred corn and acorns; 
potter's stones, polishing stones, nutting stones and other worked 
stones; broken celts; flaked chert and debitage; a piece of chipped 
quartz or red jasper; ceramic sherds, vessels and pipes; iron knives, 
scissors, awls, and an axe; pigment; glass, shell, catlinite, copper, 
and brass beads; bracelets of iron, brass, and wire; brass jingles, 
brass earrings, and a brass point; sheet brass; broken and charred 
wooden objects; shells; animal bones, hide and teeth, including fish 
teeth; worked turtle shell, fragments that are probably part of a 
rattle, and small pebbles from a rattle; bone tubes and an awl; antler 
arrow flakers; charcoal; bark; and an organic concretion.
    Museum records indicate that these human remains and associated 
funerary objects were recovered from the Silverheels site. This site is 
located within the town of Brant, 1.5 miles east of the village of 
Irving, on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, approximately 2.5 miles 
upstream of Lake Erie on Cattaraugus Creek. These interments most 
likely date to the Contact period (A.D. 1500-1700). Artifacts recovered 
from the site which support this date include iron and early colonial 
artifacts, Levanna- and Madison-style projectile points; ceramic 
vessels with globular bodies, constricted, zoned incised necks, and 
castellated rims; and a variety of terra cotta pipes, including pipes 
with trumpet-shaped bowls and bowls with representations of human faces 
and animals. In addition, multivariate attribute analysis of the 
ceramic artifacts indicates that the site dates to the early 17th 
century. In addition to the 1,478 associated funerary objects, a 
projectile point embedded in a vertebra of an individual is included 
for repatriation in this notice, although not specifically required 
under NAGPRA.
    In 1904, human remains representing 36 individuals were recovered 
from Ripley, NY, during a Peabody Museum expedition led by M.R. 
Harrington. No known individuals were identified. The 220 associated 
funerary objects include whole and broken ceramic vessels; chert knives 
and stone tools, including a point, drill, and chip; a notched net 
sinker; a smoothing stone; a celt; a worked stone; brass and shell 
beads, an iron knife blade; an antler arrow flaker; animal claws, 
bones, and teeth; bone and antler implements, including a perforator 
and a hoe; a piece of worked shell; fragments of turtle shell; and red 
ochre.
    Museum records indicate that these remains came from the Ripley 
archeological site in the township of Ripley, approximately 5 
kilometers east of the Pennsylvania border, on a sandy bluff 
immediately above Lake Erie. At the time of excavation, the land was 
owned by William Young. These interments most likely date to the Late 
Woodland period or later (post-A.D. 1000). Radiocarbon dating indicates 
that the site is multicomponent with occupations between A.D. 1300-1450 
and A.D. 1550-1650. Artifacts recovered from site date to the Late 
Woodland period (A.D. 1000-1600). These objects include Levanna- and 
Madison-style projectile points, ceramic vessels with globular bodies, 
constricted, zoned incised necks, and castellated rims, and a variety 
of terra cotta pipes, including pipes with trumpet-shaped bowls and 
bowls with representations of human faces and animals.
    In 1936, human remains representing one individual were discovered 
uncatalogued in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Museum 
documentation suggests that these remains are from Ripley, NY. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum records indicate that these remains were originally from 
Chautauqua County, NY. According to museum documents, the only 
collection accessioned into the museum from Chautauqua County is 
associated with the Ripley site. It is therefore likely that these 
remains originate from that site. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the 
Ripley site is multicomponent with occupations between A.D. 1300-1450 
and A.D. 1550-1650. Artifacts recovered from site date to the Late 
Woodland period (A.D. 1000-1600). These objects include Levanna- and 
Madison-style projectile points, ceramic vessels with globular bodies, 
constricted zoned incised necks, and castellated rims, and a variety of 
terra cotta pipes, including pipes with trumpet-shaped bowls and bowls 
with representations of human faces and animals.
    In 1905, human remains representing five individuals were recovered 
from the Mohawk Valley in New York during a Peabody Museum expedition 
led by M.R. Harrington and I. Hayden. The remains of three individuals 
were recovered from Ephratah, Fulton County, NY. The remains of two 
individuals were recovered from nearby St. Johnsville, Montgomery 
County, NY. No known individuals were identified. The 29 associated 
funerary objects include lithic rejects, a hammerstone, a miniature 
ceramic vessel, broken pipe stems, worked deer phalanges, and ceramic 
sherds.
    Museum records indicate that the remains of 3 individuals and 28 
associated funerary objects came from the Garoga site, 6 miles north of 
the Mohawk River, along the eastern bank of Caroga Creek, and that the 
remains of 2 individuals and 1 associated funerary object came from the 
Ganada site, adjacent to Crumb Creek. Remains from both sites most 
likely date to the terminal Late Woodland period (A.D. 1300-1600). 
Objects recovered from the

[[Page 51062]]

sites that support this date include Madison-style projectile points, 
ceramic vessels with globular bodies, constricted zoned incised necks, 
and castellated rims, and a variety of terra cotta pipes, including 
pipes with trumpet-shaped bowls and bowls with representations of human 
faces and animals. Ceramic seriation and radiocarbon dating suggest 
that the sites date to A.D. 1525-1545.
    In 1921, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
from Athens, PA, during a Peabody Museum expedition led by Paul F. 
Scott. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the site was discovered by 
workmen digging a gas pipeline trench in Athens. The site is described 
as being located in the narrowest portion of land between the 
Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers. This interment most likely dates to the 
Late Woodland period (A.D. 1000-1600). Ceramic fragments recovered from 
the site, although not associated with the burial, include body sherds 
with a smooth finish and a collar with a zoned, linear punctate design. 
The fragments likely represent an Owasco Corded Collar, dating to the 
early Late Woodland period (A.D. 1000-1300).
    In 1933, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by R.P. Bigelow. Museum 
documentation indicates that the remains were recovered from 
Baldwinsville, NY, by an unknown collector in 1885. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    According to museum records, the human remains came from a burial 
ground in Baldwinsville. The remains were apparently excavated on the 
site of the West Shore Railway in 1885. Despite a lack of documented 
diagnostic artifacts, the preponderance of the evidence, based upon 
museum records, indicates that these remains date to the Late Woodland 
or Contact period (A.D. 1000-1700).
    In 1937, human remains representing one individual from Elmira, NY, 
were donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology as part 
of a collection from the Department of Archaeology, Phillips Andover 
Academy, Andover, MA. According to museum records, these remains were 
recovered by F. Smith before 1937. No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that these remains come from an 
Iroquois site in Elmira. Despite a lack of documented diagnostic 
artifacts, the preponderance of the evidence, based upon museum 
records, indicates that these remains date to the Late Woodland or 
Contact period (A.D. 1000-1700).
    In 1938, human remains representing one individual from Chautauqua 
County, NY, were donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology. According to museum records, these remains were collected 
between 1888 and 1916. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation describes the human remains as ``Iroquois.'' 
The attribution of such a specific cultural affiliation to the human 
remains indicates that the interment postdates sustained contact 
between indigenous groups and Europeans beginning in the 17th century. 
Both consultation and historic evidence support the identification of 
the area from which the human remains were recovered as Iroquois 
territory at that time.
    Excavation and museum records indicate that these human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from specific burials of 
Native American individuals. Based on the date and the provenience of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects from areas considered 
to be aboriginal homelands and traditional burial areas of the 
Iroquois, a reasonable link of shared group identity may be made 
between these human remains and associated funerary objects and the 
present-day tribes who represent the Iroquois: the Cayuga Nation of New 
York, Oneida Nation of New York, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, Onondaga 
Nation of New York, St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York, 
Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, Tonawanda 
Band of Seneca Indians of New York, and Tuscarora Nation of New York.
    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 described above represent the 
physical remains of 197 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology also have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 2,344 associated 
funerary objects described 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 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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 Cayuga Nation of 
New York, Oneida Nation of New York, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, 
Onondaga Nation of New York, St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New 
York, Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York, and Tuscarora Nation of 
New York.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cayuga Nation of New 
York, Oneida Nation of New York, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, Onondaga 
Nation of New York, St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York, 
Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, Tonawanda 
Band of Seneca Indians of New York, Tuscarora Nation of New York, and 
the nonfederally recognized Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these objects should contact Patricia 
Capone, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, 
telephone (617) 496-3702, before November 5, 2001. Repatriation of 
these human remains and associated funerary objects to the Cayuga 
Nation of New York, Oneida Nation of New York, Oneida Tribe of 
Wisconsin, Onondaga Nation of New York, St. Regis Band of Mohawk 
Indians of New York, Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of 
Oklahoma, Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York, and Tuscarora 
Nation of New York may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.

    Dated: July 3, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-24963 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F