[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66481-66482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29503]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Arkansas Department of Parks and 
Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Little Rock, AR, and Arkansas 
Archeological Survey, Fayetteville, AR

AGENCY: National Park Service.

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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the control of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, 
Arkansas State Parks, Little Rock, AR, and in the possession of the 
Arkansas Archeological Survey, Fayetteville, AR. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Toltec Mounds 
Archeological State Park, Lonoke County, AR.

    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 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 Arkansas 
Archeological Survey professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma and Arkansas 
Department of Parks and Tourism, Arkansas State Parks, Little Rock, AR.
    In 1979, 1989, 1998, and 1999, human remains representing 15 
individuals were removed by the Arkansas Archeological Survey from site 
3LN42 at Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park. No known individuals 
were identified. The two associated funerary objects are one plain 
shell-tempered ceramic bottle and one red-filmed shell-tempered ceramic 
bowl.
    The remains of five individuals have been dated to the Plum Bayou 
Culture (A.D. 750 to 950), a local tradition that developed in the late 
Woodland period. The Plum Bayou Culture is characterized by common 
vessel shapes and a predominance of plainware; minor amounts of Larto 
Red, Officer Punctated, Coles Creek Incised (Keo variety), and French 
Fork Incised vessels; particular styles of lithic tools; and use of 
some lithic raw materials from central Arkansas sources. The Plum Bayou 
Culture has been extensively studied by Martha Rolingson, the 
archeologist at Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park since its 
establishment in 1976.
    The remains of one individual and the two associated funerary 
objects have been dated to the Menard Complex (A.D. 1450 to 1700), a 
local tradition that developed along the lower Arkansas River during 
the Mississippian period. The Menard Complex is characterized by an 
increased prevalence of painted ware, and common vessel shapes 
including globular neck bottles and helmet bowls.
    The remains of nine individuals cannot be precisely dated, but are 
believed to have been interred at some point during the late Woodland, 
Mississippian, or historic period.
    Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park is located along an oxbow of 
the lower Arkansas River. Archeological evidence from the park 
indicates a continuity of human occupation from A.D. 750 into the 
historic period. French explorers documented Quapaw villages at the 
mouth of the Arkansas River around 1700. The Quapaw are known to have 
hunted and traveled along the central Arkansas River in the vicinity of 
Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park during the historic period. In 
1818, the Quapaw ceded this portion of the central Arkansas River 
valley, including the land that became Toltec Mounds Archeological 
State Park, to the United States. The continuity of archeological and 
historical evidence supports a relationship of shared group identity 
between the prehistoric occupants of Toltec Mounds Archeological State 
Park and the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    The Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma maintains a strong link to 
Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park, and has negotiated an agreement 
with the Arkansas State Parks to establish a Keepsafe Cemetery at the 
park for the reburial of Native American human remains and associated 
funerary objects recovered from the Arkansas River valley. Quapaw 
traditional religious leaders have sanctified an area of the site for 
reburial of human remains.

[[Page 66482]]

    Officials of Arkansas State Parks and the Arkansas Archeological 
Survey have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the 
human remains described above represent the physical remains of 15 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of Arkansas State 
Parks and the Arkansas Archeological Survey also have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the two 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 Arkansas State Parks and the Arkansas 
Archeological Survey 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 
associated funerary objects and the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Patricia Murphy, Director, Historical Resources 
and Museum Services, Arkansas State Parks, One Capitol Mall, Little 
Rock, AR 72201, telephone (501) 682-3603, before December 26, 2003. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Arkansas Archeological Survey in conjunction with Arkansas 
State Parks is responsible for notifying the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, 
Oklahoma, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 28, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-29503 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
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