[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51066-51067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24967]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item 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), 43 CFR 
10.10(a)(3), of the intent to repatriate a cultural item in the 
possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard 
University, Cambridge, MA, that meets the definition of ``unassociated 
funerary object'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    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 this 
cultural item. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the cultural item was made by the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Cayuga Nation of New York; Delaware Tribe 
of Indians, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, 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.
    The one cultural item is a brass finger ring.
    Around 1880, the brass finger ring was donated to the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Alexander Howell. The object was 
excavated near Canandaigua, Ontario County, NY.
    According to museum documentation, the ring was recovered from a 
grave near Canandaigua. No additional provenience information is 
available, but it is believed that the grave was that of a Native 
American individual. Because this ring is brass, and brass was only 
introduced with European trade, the ring can be dated to the Contact or 
Historic period (post-A.D. 1500). Historic sources and consultation 
information indicate that Canandaigua was part of the Seneca territory 
during the Contact and Historic periods. The Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology does not have possession of the human remains 
from this burial.
    Based upon the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2)(ii), this cultural item is 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 and is 
believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from 
a specific burial site of a Native American individual. Officials of 
the Peabody 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 this unassociated 
funerary object and the Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe 
of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cayuga Nation of New 
York; Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, 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. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with this unassociated funerary object should contact Patricia Capone, 
Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of

[[Page 51067]]

Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, 
Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 496-3702, before November 5, 2001. 
Repatriation of this unassociated funerary object to the Seneca Nation 
of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of 
Seneca Indians 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. 01-24967 Filed 10-4-01 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F