[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12377-12378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6218]


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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 ``unassociated funerary 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.
    In 1912, 18 shell beads were removed from the Shield's Mound 
Complex (Florida site [numsign]8DU12), Duval County, FL, by C.B. Moore. 
These beads were donated the same year to the Springfield Science 
Museum by Mr. Moore. Accession records indicate that these shell beads 
were removed from a human burial that also contained a projectile 
point. Neither the human remains nor

[[Page 12378]]

the projectile point were donated to the museum.
    Consultation with the Florida State archaeologist revealed that 
pottery dating to the St. Johns I and II periods was recovered from the 
Shield's Mound Complex site indicating that the site likely dates from 
500 B.C. to A.D. 1562. An assessment of these cultural items has been 
made by the staff of the Springfield Science Museum in consultation 
with representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and 
the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood 
& Tampa Reservations. The Shield's Mound Complex is located within the 
territory historically occupied by the Miccosukee and has been 
identified as an earlier occupation area by representatives of the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.
    Officials of the Springfield Science Museum have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, Sec. 2 (3)(B), 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 an Native American 
individual. 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 unassociated funerary objects and the Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians of Florida.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with these unassociated funerary objects 
should contact David Stier, Director, Springfield Science Museum, 220 
State Street, Springfield, MA 01103, telephone (413) 263-6800, 
extension 321, before April 14, 2003. Repatriation of these 
unassociated funerary objects to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of 
Florida may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Springfield Science Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of 
Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 12, 2002.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 03-6218 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
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