[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58522-58523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29096]


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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 Robert S. 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Andover, 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 the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology, Andover, 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 Robert 
S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians of Maine, 
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine, Passamaquoddy Tribe of 
Maine, and Penobscot Tribe of Maine.
    In 1956, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Pond Island site in Deer Isle, Hancock County, ME, by Douglas 
Byers under the auspices of the Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The Pond Island site was occupied 2150-950 B.P./150 B.C.-A.D. 1050 
(Middle Ceramic period) based on ceramic assemblages from the site. 
Cultural continuity is evident in Maine from the Middle Ceramic period 
through the Late Ceramic period based on ceramic assemblages, and 
maritime technologies and settlement patterns.
    In 1913, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from the Boynton's Shellheap in Lamoine, Hancock County, ME, by Warren 
K. Moorehead and Charles Peabody under the auspices of the Robert S. 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The Boynton Shellheap site was occupied from the Middle to the Late 
Ceramic periods (2150-500 B.P./150 B.C.-A.D. 1500) based on artifact 
assemblages recovered from the site. Cultural continuity is evident in 
Maine from the Middle Ceramic period through the Late Ceramic period 
based on ceramic assemblages, and maritime technologies and settlement 
patterns.
    In 1912, human remains representing five individual were recovered 
from the Mason's Cemetery site in Orland, Hancock County, ME, by 
Frances Manning and Warren Moorehead under the auspices of the Robert 
S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology. No known individuals were identified. 
The 20 associated funerary objects are 2 perforated ground stone 
cylinders; 1 large chipped stone biface; 1 polishing stone; 1 possible 
mini celt; 1 rock; 1 lot of burned earth; 1 lot of organics and copper 
fragments; 1 lot of soil and charcoal matrix; 1 lot of soil, charcoal, 
organics, and ochre matrix; 1 lot of charcoal, organics, and copper 
beads; 6 lots of charcoal, organics, and copper fragments; and 2 lots 
of charcoal.The Mason's Cemetery site has been dated to the later part 
of the Early Ceramic period (3150-2150 B.P./1150-150 B.C.) based on 
artifact assemblages from the site and radiocarbon dating. Though there 
are some discontinuities between the Early Ceramic and the Middle 
Ceramic periods in Maine, it seems that the continuities in the 
archeological record between these periods are stronger than not. 
Although burial treatment and exchange relations do differ from later 
periods, maritime technologies, settlement patterns and seasonal 
occupations are more continuous than not from the Early to Late Ceramic 
periods. In addition, ceramic technology and morphology indicate 
gradual change rather than population replacement.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of Robert S. 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of seven individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology also have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 20 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 Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
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 Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians of Maine, Houlton Band 
of Maliseet Indians of Maine, Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine, and 
Penobscot Tribe of Maine.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Aroostook Band of 
Micmac Indians of Maine, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine, 
Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine, and Penobscot Tribe of Maine. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should

[[Page 58523]]

contact Malinda Blustain, Acting Director or Leah Rosenmeier, Director 
of External Programs, Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Phillips 
Academy, Andover, MA 01810, telephone (978) 749-4490 before December 21 
2001. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
to the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians of Maine, Houlton Band of 
Maliseet Indians of Maine, Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine, and Penobscot 
Tribe of Maine may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.

    Dated: October 15, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-29096 Filed 11-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S