[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 11140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5511]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Springfield 
Science Museum, Springfield, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, Sec. 7, of 
the intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the 
Springfield Science Museum, Springfield, MA, that meet the definition 
of ``sacred objects'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003, Sec. 5 
(d)(3). 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.
    The eight cultural items, removed from various locations in western 
Massachusetts, are a ceramic elbow pipe, a steatite elbow pipe, a 
steatite pipe with incised decoration, a clay tubular pipe stem, a 
worked bone tubular pipe, a steatite turtle pipe, a slate animal effigy 
pipe bowl, and a steatite platform pipe.
    In 1929, L. Lamb donated a ceramic elbow pipe from an unknown site 
in South Hadley, Hampshire County, MA, to the Springfield Science 
Museum. The circumstances surrounding its removal from South Hadley are 
unknown. This pipe likely dates to the Late Woodland period (circa A.D. 
1000-1580).
    In 1982, the Springfield Science Museum acquired a steatite elbow 
pipe from an unknown site in Belchertown, Hampshire County, MA. This 
item was donated to the museum by C.W. Hull who purchased it from S. 
Grasso. The circumstances surrounding its removal from Belchertown are 
unknown. This pipe likely dates to the Late Woodland period (circa A.D. 
1000-1580).
    Also in 1982, the Springfield Science Museum acquired a steatite 
tubular pipe stem with incised decorations from an unknown site in 
Agawam, Hampden County, MA. This item was donated to the museum by C.W. 
Hull. The circumstances surrounding its removal from Agawam are 
unknown. This pipe likely dates to the Early Woodland period (circa 
1000 B.C.-A.D. 600).
    In 1986, the Springfield Science Museum acquired a clay tubular 
pipe stem and a worked bone tubular pipe, which had been removed from 
the Bark Wigwams site (MA site 19-HS-280), Northampton, Hampshire 
County, MA, by W.S. Rodimon. The year the objects were removed is 
unknown. The Bark Wigwams site likely dates to the Early Historic 
period (circa A.D. 1625-1637) based on the presence of Dutch trade 
beads recovered from the site.
     Also in 1986, the Springfield Science Museum acquired a steatite 
turtle pipe, which had been removed from MA site 19-FR-24 in Deerfield, 
Franklin County, MA, by W.S. Rodimon. The year it was removed is 
unknown. The site in Deerfield likely dates to the Late Woodland and 
Contact periods (circa A.D. 1580-1700).
    Also in 1986, the Springfield Science Museum acquired a slate 
animal effigy pipe removed from the Baptist Hill site in Palmer, 
Hampden County, MA, by C.W. Hull. The year it was removed is unknown. 
The Baptist Hill site likely dates to the Late Woodland and Contact 
periods (circa A.D. 1580-1700).
    In 1986, the Springfield Science Museum acquired a steatite 
platform pipe removed from the Riverside Y-4 site (MA site19-FR-269), 
Gill, Franklin County, MA, by W.S. Rodimon. The year it was removed is 
unknown. The site in Gill likely dates to the Middle Woodland period 
(circa A.D. 600-1000).
    Based on the geographic location of these sites within the 
historically known homeland of the Mohican Indians, these pipes are 
most likely culturally affiliated with the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin, also known as the Stockbridge Munsee Tribe of 
Mohican Indians. The Stockbridge Indians were removed from 
Massachusetts in the late 1700s. Mohican traditional religious leaders 
indicated during consultation that the pipes are needed for the 
practice of traditional Mohican religion by present-day adherents.
    Officials at the Springfield Science Museum have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, Sec. 2 (3)(C), these eight pipes are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional Native American 
religious leaders for the practice of traditional Native American 
religions by their present-day adherents. Officials of the Springfield 
Science Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, 
Sec. 2 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can 
be reasonably traced between these sacred objects and the Stockbridge 
Munsee Community, Wisconsin.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with these sacred objects should contact David 
Stier, Director, Springfield Science Museum, 220 State Street, 
Springfield, MA 01103, telephone (413) 263-6800, extension 321, before 
April 7, 2003. Repatriation of these sacred objects to the Stockbridge 
Munsee Community, Wisconsin may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Springfield Science Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: January 24, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 03-5511 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S