[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45274-45275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18705]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of the 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, MA. The human remains were removed from Middlesex and 
Worcester Counties, MA.
    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 
Native American human remains. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with officials of Nipmuc Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian 
group) and Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing Wampanoag 
Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group), and Assonet Band of the 
Wampanoag Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian group).
     In 1878, human remains representing one individual were collected 
by A.F. Aldrich from Uxbridge, Worcester County, MA, and were donated 
by Mr. Aldrich to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Osteological characteristics indicate that the individual is Native 
American. Museum documentation indicates that a tin box containing 
cloth and a thimble were located with the human remains; these objects 
date the interment to the Historic or Contact periods (post-A.D. 1500). 
The objects are not in the possession of the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology and their location is unknown. Archeological, 
historical, and ethnographic sources, along with consultation with 
regional Native American groups, indicate that this region of 
Massachusetts was the aboriginal homelands of the Nipmuc Nation during 
the Historic and Contact periods.
    In 1890, human remains representing one individual were collected 
by Adams Tolman from Concord, Middlesex County, MA, and were donated by 
Mr. Tolman to the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Osteological characteristics indicate that the individual is Native 
American. The pattern of copper stains present on the human remains 
indicates that they were interred sometime after European contact 
(circa A.D. 1500). Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, 
along with consultation with regional Native American groups, indicate 
that during the Historic and Contact periods this area of Massachusetts 
was the border region between the Nipmuc Nation and the Massachusett 
people. Because there is no known present-day tribe representing the 
Massachusett people, shared group identity may be reasonably traced 
only to the Nipmuc Nation.
    The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology has determined that 
the human remains described in this notice cannot be affiliated with an 
Indian tribe according to the definition of cultural affiliation at 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (2), and are considered culturally unidentifiable. 
According to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation 
Review Committee's charter, the Review Committee is responsible for 
recommending specific actions for disposition of culturally 
unidentifiable human remains. In October 1998, the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology presented a disposition proposal to the 
Review Committee to repatriate two culturally unidentifiable human 
remains to the Nipmuc Nation. The proposal was considered by the Review 
Committee at its December 1998 meeting.
    The Review Committee recommended disposition of the human remains 
to the Nipmuc Nation contingent upon the museum's meeting two 
requirements. A January 11, 2000, letter from the National Park Service 
to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology requested that the 
museum publish a Notice of Inventory Completion in the Federal 
Register, and that it consider documentation compiled as part of the 
inventory process as public information and available for educational 
and scientific uses. The two requirements will have been met with the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

[[Page 45275]]

    Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology 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 Native American human remains and 
the Nipmuc Nation.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Diana 
Loren, Acting Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 
02138, telephone (617) 495-4125, before September 2, 2003. Repatriation 
of the human remains to the Nipmuc Nation may proceed after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology is responsible for 
notifying Nipmuc Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian group) and 
Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing Wampanoag Tribe of 
Gay Head (Aquinnah), Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a nonfederally 
recognized Indian group), and Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group) that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 29, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-18705 Filed 7-31-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S