[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 68953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30565]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Washington State 
University, Museum of Anthropology, Pullman, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

    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 Washington 
State University, Museum of Anthropology, Pullman, WA, 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 (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.
    In 1972, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals 
were removed from the Asotin cemetery site (45-AS-9), Asotin County, 
WA, during archeological excavations under the direction of Roderick 
Sprague of the University of Idaho. The human remains were reburied by 
the University of Idaho and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho shortly after 
they were excavated. Funerary objects found with the human remains were 
retained by Dr. Sprague until they were accessioned by the Washington 
State University, Museum of Anthropology in 1997 and 2000. The 168 
unassociated funerary objects are 1 projectile point, 1 stone flake, 1 
bear claw, 1 pestle in 2 pieces, 1 lot (0.2 g) of olivella shell bead 
fragments, 134 dentalia shell beads, 1 lot (2.5 g) of nonhuman bone 
fragments, 6 whole shell pendants, 11 shell pendant fragments, 1 antler 
fragment, 1 bone whistle, 1 lot (1.1 g) of bark fragments, 1 lot (324.1 
g) of wood fragments, 5 pieces of polished nonhuman bone, 1 lot (18 g) 
of plant remains, and 1 lot (33.6 g) of matting fragments.
    Burial patterns and artifacts found at the site indicate that the 
burials removed from the Asotin cemetery site originally were interred 
between A.D. 1000 and the mid-19th century. Oral tradition and 
historical evidence indicate that the cemetery was used by two Nez 
Perce bands that inhabited the villages of Hasotino and Hesweiwewipu. 
Descendants of these two bands are known to be members of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington and Nez 
Perce Tribe of Idaho. The Asotin cemetery site is located within the 
area reserved by the Nez Perce under the Treaty of 1855, but was 
deleted from tribal lands in the Treaty of 1863. The Indian Claims 
Commission determined that the area in which the Asotin cemetery site 
is located has been occupied exclusively by the Nez Perce at least 
since the mid-19th century.
    Officials of the Washington State University, Museum of 
Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), 
the 168 cultural items described above 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 a specific 
burial site of a Native American individual. Officials of the 
Washington State University, Museum of Anthropology 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 Confederated Tribes 
of the Colville Reservation, Washington and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Mary Collins, Associate Director, Museum of Anthropology, 
Washington State University, P.O. Box 62291, Pullman, WA 99164-4910, 
telephone (509) 335-4314, before January 9, 2004. Repatriation of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation, Washington and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Washington State University, Museum of Anthropology is 
responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation, Washington and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: November 5, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-30565 Filed 12-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-50-S