[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 11142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5515]



[[Page 11142]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Missouri-Columbia, 
Museum of Anthropology, Columbia, MO

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), 25 U.S.C. 
3003, Sec. 5, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects in the possession of the University of 
Missouri-Columbia, Museum of Anthropology, Columbia, MO. These human 
remains and funerary objects were removed from a site in Saline County, 
MO.
    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 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 University 
of Missouri-Columbia professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Iowa Tribe of 
Oklahoma; and Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    Between 1939 and 1980, human remains representing a minimum of six 
individuals were removed from site 23SA002 (Utz site), Saline County, 
MO, during excavations conducted by University of Missouri-Columbia 
professional staff, supervised field school students, and volunteers of 
the Missouri Archaeological Society. No known individuals were 
identified. The 12 associated funerary objects are faunal remains, 5 
pieces of debitage, and 6 pottery fragments.
    Based on oral tradition, types of associated funerary objects, and 
historical documents, these individuals have been determined to be 
Native American. Based on radiocarbon dating, presence of trade 
objects, and historical documents, the Utz site has been identified as 
a village occupation estimated to date to approximately A.D. 1460-1712. 
Oral tradition, archeological evidence, and historical documents 
indicate that the Utz site was a village of the Missouria Tribe, and 
therefore, the burials are reasonably believed to be culturally 
affiliated with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
     Officials of the University of Missouri-Columbia have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, Sec. 2 (9-10), the human remains 
listed above represent the physical remains of six individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the University of Missouri-
Columbia also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, Sec. 2 
(3)(A), the 12 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 University of Missouri-Columbia 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 Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and the Otoe-Missouria 
Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    Additional human remains and funerary objects from the Utz site 
(23SA002) were described in two Notices of Inventory Completion 
published in the Federal Register July 18, 2000 (FR doc. 00-18137, page 
44545), and April 3, 2001 (FR doc. 01-8175, pages 17732-17733), and 
were subsequently repatriated to the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma on behalf 
of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should contact Dr. Michael O'Brien, Director, Museum 
of Anthropology, 317 Lowry Hall, University of Missouri-Columbia, 
Columbia, MO 65211, telephone (573) 882-4421, before April 7, 2003. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma may begin after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    The University of Missouri-Columbia, Museum of Anthropology is 
responsible for notifying the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Iowa 
Tribe of Oklahoma; and Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 10, 2002.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 03-5515 Filed 3-6-03; 8:45 am]
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