[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23493-23494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10915]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


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

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), 43 CFR 10.8 (f), 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 at 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B).
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of 
the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the 
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    This notice and a companion notice of inventory completion 
correction replace the notice of inventory completion that was 
published in the Federal Register on April 16, 1996 (FR Doc. 96-9366, 
page 16643). The two correction notices revise the total number of 
human remains and funerary objects and provide additional evidence for 
cultural affiliation. These corrections are necessary as the result of 
reevaluation of the collection and accompanying documentation that 
reduces the numbers of cultural items considered culturally affiliated 
with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation, California. The total number of human remains is reduced 
from a minimum of 2 to 1 individual. The total number of funerary 
objects is reduced from 200 to 65 associated funerary objects and 39 
unassociated funerary objects. The 39 unassociated funerary objects are 
described in this notice of intent to repatriate correction; the human 
remains and associated funerary objects are described in the companion 
notice of inventory completion.
    In 1908, Dr. Jacob T. Bowne removed 39 cultural items from burial 
sites on Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, and Goleta, all in Santa 
Barbara County, CA. The cultural items are 25 shell beads from Santa 
Cruz Island; 1 lead bullet, 11 leaf shaped stone blades, and 1 shell 
pendant from Santa Rosa Island; 1 stone tube pipe from Goleta. Dr. 
Bowne donated these cultural items to the Springfield Science Museum in 
1925.
    Museum documentation indicates that the cultural items were removed 
from specific burial sites. Archeological evidence indicates that the 
sites from which the cultural items were removed were used as burial/
funerary areas from the Late Precontact period to the mid-19th century 
(A.D. 1400 to 1850). Analyses of funerary practices, tools, 
ornamentation, and funerary objects at various components of the site 
indicate cultural continuity throughout the Late Precontact period to 
the mid-19th century. Consultation evidence presented by 
representatives of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of 
the Santa Ynez Reservation, California indicates that funerary 
practices, tool manufacture, ornamentation types, and funerary objects 
are identical to Chumash traditional practices documented in the 
Historic period. Overall evaluation of the totality of the 
circumstances and evidence indicates a probable cultural affiliation 
between the cultural items and several Chumash Indian groups, including 
the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation, California and several nonfederally recognized Indian 
groups.
    Officials of the Springfield Science Museum have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 39 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 a death rite or ceremony and are 
believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from 
specific burials sites of Native American individuals. Officials of the 
Springfield Science Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that 
can be reasonably traced between the unassociated funerary objects and 
the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation, California.

[[Page 23494]]

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact David Stier, Director, Springfield Science Museum, 236 State 
Street, Springfield, MA 01103, telephone (413) 263-6800, extension 321, 
before June 2, 2003. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects 
to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation, California may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Springfield Science Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation, California; and Esselin Nation and Ti'at Society/
Traditional Council of Pima (two nonfederally recognized Indian groups) 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 8, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-10915 Filed 5-1-03; 8:45 am]
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