[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51468-51469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25154]



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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), 43 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 was made by Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut, 
Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, Wabanaki Tribes of Maine 
Intertribal Repatriation Committee (representing the Aroostook Band of 
Micmac Indians of Maine, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine, 
Indian Township Reservation of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Pleasant Point 
Reservation of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Penobscot Tribe of Maine), 
Wampanoag Confederation (representing the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head 
[Aquinnah], Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe [a nonfederally recognized 
Indian group], and Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation [a nonfederally 
recognized Indian group]), Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi (a nonfederally 
recognized Indian group), and Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire (a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group).
    The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology has determined that 
the human remains reported in this notice cannot be affiliated with an 
Indian tribe as defined in NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (b)(2), and are 
considered culturally unidentifiable. Until final promulgation of 
Section 10.11 of NAGPRA regulations, the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Review Committee is responsible for 
recommending to the Secretary of the Interior specific actions for the 
disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains, according to 
NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.10 (g). In April 1999, the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology proposed to repatriate 30 culturally 
unidentifiable human remains to the Western Abenaki, represented by the 
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group, 
and to the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized 
Indian group. The proposal was considered by the review committee at 
its May 1999 meeting.
     The review committee recommended disposition of the human remains 
to the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi and the Abenaki Nation of New 
Hampshire contingent upon the museum's meeting four requirements. A 
February 7, 2000, letter from the National Park Service to the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology asked that the museum would 
distribute the inventory of culturally unidentifiable human remains to 
the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine Intertribal Repatriation Committee and the 
Wampanoag Confederation; document the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine 
Intertribal Repatriation Committee's and the Wampanoag Confederation's 
concurrence with the proposed disposition; publish a notice of 
inventory completion in the Federal Register; and consider 
documentation compiled as part of the inventory process as public 
information, and available for education and scientific uses. The 
Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology documented in a January 11, 
2001, letter to the review committee that three of the requirements had 
been met, noting that the fourth requirement would be met with the 
publication of this Notice of Inventory Completion. A July 11, 2001, 
letter from the Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and 
Partnerships confirmed that, with publication of this notice, the four 
requirements of the February 7, 2000, letter will have been met.
    In 1876, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum by N. Cressy. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were 
recovered from historic Fort Dummer, south of Brattleboro, VT. 
Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, along with oral 
traditions of the Western Abenaki, indicate that this portion of 
Vermont is the aboriginal and historic homeland of the Western Abenaki 
from at least the Late Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) through the 
Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Based upon the fact that no human 
remains are known from this area prior to the Late Archaic period, 
these human remains are likely to date between the Late Archaic and 
Historic periods. The Western Abenaki are represented today by the 
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group, 
and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized 
Indian group.
    In 1877, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the Museum of 
Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. No known individual was 
identified. Although a copper bead was recovered with the remains, the 
museum is not currently in possession of the bead, nor does the museum 
know the bead's location.
     Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were 
recovered from ``Highgate'' in Vermont, which could refer to the town, 
the falls, or the archeological site, all near Lake Champlain. A copper 
bead associated with the interment and the presence of copper staining 
on the human remains indicate that this interment most likely dates to 
the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Archeological, historical, and 
ethnographic sources, along with oral traditions of the Western 
Abenaki, indicate that this portion of Vermont is the aboriginal and 
historic homeland of the Western Abenaki, from at least the Late 
Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) through the Historic period (post-500 
B.P.). The Western Abenaki are represented today by the Abenaki Nation 
of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki 
Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized Indian group.
    In 1897, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Dr. J. A. Keown, of 
Lynn, MA. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were 
recovered 2 miles from Hinsdale, NH, in 1893. Archeological, 
historical, and ethnographic sources, along with oral traditions of the 
Western Abenaki, indicate that this portion of New Hampshire is the 
aboriginal and historic homeland of the Western Abenaki from at least 
the Late Archaic period (6000-

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4000 B.P.) through the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Based upon the 
fact that no human remains are known from this area prior to the Late 
Archaic period, these human remains are likely to date between the Late 
Archaic and Historic periods. The Western Abenaki are represented today 
by the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian 
group, and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally 
recognized Indian group.
     In 1901, human remains representing 19 individuals were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by A.L. Dakin. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were 
recovered from around the shore of Fresh Pond and Lake Musquatanakus, 
in Brookline, NH. Four of the human remains were recovered by workmen 
while building an ice house on the shore of Fresh Pond. The other 15 
human remains were excavated from the shore of Lake Musquatanakus by 
A.L. Dakin and C.C. Willoughby of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology in 1901. Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, 
along with oral traditions of the Western Abenaki, indicate that this 
portion of New Hampshire is the aboriginal and historic homeland of the 
Western Abenaki from at least the Late Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) 
through the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Based upon the fact that 
no human remains are known from this area prior to the Late Archaic 
period, these human remains are likely to date between the Late Archaic 
and Historic periods. The Western Abenaki are represented today by the 
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group, 
and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized 
Indian group.
    In 1919, human remains representing one individual were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by F.H. Manning. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were 
recovered from Amoskeag Falls along the Merrimack River, in Manchester, 
NH. Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, along with 
oral traditions of the Western Abenaki, indicate that this portion of 
New Hampshire is the aboriginal and historic homeland of the Western 
Abenaki from at least the Late Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) through 
the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Based upon the fact that no human 
remains are known from this area prior to the Late Archaic period, 
these human remains are likely to date between the Late Archaic and 
Historic periods. The Western Abenaki are represented today by the 
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group, 
and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized 
Indian group.
    In 1934, human remains representing six individuals were donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Philip Dana Orcutt. 
No known individuals were identified. Associated funerary objects are 
two pieces of wood and an iron nail, but because disposition of 
funerary objects associated with culturally unidentifiable human 
remains is not governed by NAGPRA, associated funerary objects are not 
among the cultural items included in this notice.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were 
recovered from a known burial ground dating to the Historic period 
(post-500 B.P.) in Effingham, NH. Osteological characteristics of the 
human remains indicate that the individuals are of Native American 
ancestry. The interment pattern and the presence of copper staining on 
human remains indicate that the burial dates to the Historic period 
(post-500 B.P.). Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, 
along with oral traditions of the Western Abenaki, indicate that this 
portion of New Hampshire is the aboriginal and historic homeland of the 
Western Abenaki from at least the Late Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) 
through the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). The Western Abenaki are 
represented today by the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally 
recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group.
    In 1959, human remains representing one individual were permanently 
loaned to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the Warren 
Anatomical Museum, Harvard University. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were 
recovered from ``Merrimack'' in New Hampshire. It is not clear whether 
this refers to the town of Merrimac, the Merrimack River, or the 
greater Merrimack Valley; museum documentation implies that 
``Merrimack'' refers to the river. Archeological, historical, and 
ethnographic sources, along with oral traditions of the Western 
Abenaki, indicate that this portion of New Hampshire is the aboriginal 
and historic homeland of the Western Abenaki from at least the Late 
Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) through the Historic period (post-500 
B.P.). Based upon the fact that no human remains are known from this 
area prior to the Late Archaic period, these human remains are likely 
to date between the Late Archaic and Historic periods. The Western 
Abenaki are represented today by the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki Nation of New 
Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized Indian group.
     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 represent the 
physical remains of 30 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between these 
Native American human remains and the Western Abenaki, who are 
represented by the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally 
recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group.
    This notice has been sent to the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki Nation of New 
Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized Indian group. Representatives of 
any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains should contact Patricia Capone, Repatriation 
Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 11 Divinity 
Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 496-3702, before November 
8, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains to the Abenaki Nation of 
Missisquoi and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: August 3, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-25154 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S