[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57841-57842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23132]


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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 Museum of 
Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI; 
Correction

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 Museum of Natural History and 
Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.
    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.
    This notice corrects information that was reported in a Notice of 
Inventory Completion published October 4, 2001 (Federal Register 
document 01-24936, pages 50672-50673), which was itself a correction of 
a Notice of Inventory Completion published May 3, 2001 (Federal 
Register document 01-11141, pages 22248-22250). This notice corrects 
the cultural affiliation for human remains and associated funerary 
objects from four sites that were included in the original May 3, 2001, 
notice and the October 4, 2001, correction notice. This notice also 
reports for the first time human remains and associated funerary 
objects from an additional site that was inadvertently omitted from 
both notices.
    Review of museum documentation has revealed that human remains and 
associated funerary objects from the four sites listed below have been 
determined to be cultural affiliated exclusively to the Narragansett 
Indian Tribe of Rhode Island. Human remains and associated funerary 
objects from Field's Point, Providence, RI are reported here for the 
first time, and have been determined to be culturally affiliated to the 
Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island.
    Paragraphs 5-8 and 11-13 of the October 4, 2001, notice are 
corrected by substituting the following paragraphs:(Paragraph 5) In 
1899, human remains representing one individual were recovered from 
Jamestown, RI, by James H. Clarke and donated to the Museum of Natural 
History and Planetarium. No known individual was identified. The two 
associated funerary objects are an iron axe fragment and an animal bone 
fragment.
    (Paragraph 6) Based on red ochre and copper staining on the human 
remains, this individual has been determined to be Native American from 
the contact period. Based on physical evidence and geographic/
provenience information, this individual has been determined to be 
culturally affiliated with the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode 
Island.
    (Paragraph 7) Before May 1939, human remains representing two 
individuals were recovered from Old Warwick, near Wharf Road, East 
Greenwich, RI, by Lincoln C. Bateson, who donated these human remains 
to the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in May 1939. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. (Paragraph 8) Based on museum documentation and physical 
evidence, these individuals have been identified as Native American. 
Based on physical evidence and geographic/provenience information, 
these individuals have been determined to be culturally affiliated with 
the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island.
    (Paragraph 11) In 1927, human remains representing one individual 
were recovered from London Street, East Greenwich, RI, and donated to 
the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium by W.E. Crease. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present. 
Accession information states these human remains

[[Page 57842]]

were ``dug up on London Street, 10 feet deep.'' Based on museum 
documentation and physical evidence, this individual has been 
identified as Native American. Based on physical evidence and 
geographic/provenience information, this individual has been determined 
to be culturally affiliated with the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode 
Island.
    (Paragraph 12) In 1936, human remains representing one individual 
were recovered from Melrose Street, West Ferry site, Jamestown, RI, by 
Roy Johnson, Louis Watson, and others. In 1937, these human remains 
were donated to the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium by Mr. 
Johnson. No known individual was identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a blanket fragment.
    (Paragraph 13) Based on museum documentation and physical evidence, 
this individual has been identified as Native American. Based on 
physical evidence, consultation with tribal representatives, and 
geographic/provenience information, this individual has been determined 
to be culturally affiliated with the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode 
Island.
    The following two paragraphs report for the first time human 
remains from Fields Point, Providence, RI.
    In 1925, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
from Field's Point, Providence, RI, by Edwin Birch, who donated these 
human remains to the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium at an 
unknown date. No known individual was identified. There are no 
associated funerary objects.Based on skeletal morphology and the 
presence of copper staining, this individual has been identified as 
Native American from the contact or protohistoric period. Based on 
physical evidence, consultation with tribal representatives, and 
geographic/provenience information, this individual has been determined 
to be culturally affiliated with the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode 
Island. Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Museum of Natural History and Planetarium have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above 
represent the physical remains of six individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 
also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the three 
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 the Museum of 
Natural History and Planetarium 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 Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode 
Island.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Narragansett Indian 
Tribe of Rhode Island and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Marilyn Massaro, Curator of Collections, Museum 
of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI 
02905, telephone (401) 785-9457, before October 15, 2002. Repatriation 
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island may begin after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: July 3, 2002.
Paula Molloy,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-23132 Filed 9-11-02; 8:45 am]
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