[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17463-17464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8628]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession 
of the Springfield Science Museum, Springfield, 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, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), 
of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the 
Springfield Science Museum, Springfield, MA, that meet the definition 
of ``unassociated funerary objects'' 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 these 
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.

[[Page 17464]]

    The 151 cultural items are glass beads, shell beads, chert 
projectile points, and rolled lead sheets.
    In 1925, these items were donated to the Springfield Science Museum 
by J.T. Bowne. According to museum records, the objects came from 
``Indian graves on the east bank of Cayuga Lake, Union Springs, New 
York.'' The area from which the remains were collected is in Cayuga 
County, NY, and, based on historical sources and treaties, lies within 
the area in which the Cayuga had villages. Cultural material recovered 
from this site, including chert projectile points and glass beads, 
supports a Late Woodland and postcontact date (circa A.D. 1000-1700). 
The Springfield Science Museum does not have possession of the human 
remains from this site.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Springfield Science Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(2)(ii), these cultural items 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 and are believed, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific 
burial site of a Native American individual. Officials 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 
cultural items and the Cayuga Nation of New York.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cayuga Nation of New 
York, Seneca Nation of New York, and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of 
Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these unassociated funerary 
objects should contact John Pretola, Curator of Anthropology, 
Springfield Science Museum, 236 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103, 
telephone (413) 263-6800, extension 320, before May 10, 2002. 
Repatriation of these unassociated funerary objects to the Cayuga 
Nation of New York may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.

    Dated: February 14, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-8628 Filed 4-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S