[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 45995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17418]


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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 Lambertville 
Historical Society, Lambertville, NJ

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 in the possession of 
the Lambertville Historical Society, Lambertville, NJ.
     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 
Lambertville Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
the New Jersey State Museum and representatives of the Delaware Nation, 
Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians of North Carolina; and Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican 
Indians of Wisconsin. The Lambertville Historical Society also 
consulted with the Native American Alliance of Bucks County and the 
Delaware Nation Grand Council of North America, two nonfederally 
recognized Indian groups.
     In either 1858 or 1862, human remains representing one individual 
were recovered by Captain John S. Bailey near the old lime kiln on the 
banks of the Delaware River at Lower Black's Eddy, Bucks County, PA. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. The human remains consist of the right parietal bone of a 
skull. The elevated skullcap and high-vaulted shape are characteristic 
of Native American populations. An August 5, 1873, article in the Bucks 
County Intelligencer reported that there was an ``indication that the 
spot [from which the human remains were recovered] was an Indian burial 
place, as well as a manufactory of arrow heads and other utensils of 
stone.''
     These human remains are believed to have been found at the Lower 
Black's Eddy site (36BU23). The Lower Black's Eddy site was excavated 
in 1893 by Dr. Henry C. Mercer and was considered by him to be one of 
the oldest and largest village sites in the Delaware Valley between 
Trenton and the Lehigh River. The site was excavated again in 1982 and 
1986-87. These excavations identified a stratified sequence spanning 
the Late/Terminal Archaic (3000-1000 B.C), Early/Middle Woodland (1000 
B.C.-A.D. 500), and Late Woodland periods (A.D. 500-1600). The 
relatively good condition of the skull and the acidity of the soil at 
the Lower Black's Eddy site indicate that the human remains were 
probably buried during the Late Woodland period (A.D. 500-1600). The 
Delaware River and its tributaries are thought to be the homeland of 
the Delaware Indians, many of whom were relocated to Oklahoma and 
Wisconsin during the 19th century.
     Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Lambertville Historical Society have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of one individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Lambertville Historical Society 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 Native American human remains 
and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; 
and Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin.
     This notice has been sent to officials of the Delaware Nation, 
Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians of North Carolina; Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican 
Indians of Wisconsin; Native American Alliance of Bucks County; and the 
Delaware Nation Grand Council of North America. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these human remains should contact Nancy Keim Comley, Lambertville 
Historical Society, P.O. Box 2, Lambertville, NJ 08530, telephone (609) 
397-0770, before August 12, 2002. Repatriation of the human remains to 
the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and 
Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: March 27, 2002.
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-17418 Filed 7-10-02; 8:45 am]
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