[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68952-68953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30566]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Idaho, Alfred W. 
Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology, Moscow, ID; and Washington State 
University, Museum of Anthropology, Pullman, WA

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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects. The human remains are in the control of the University of 
Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology, Moscow, ID. The 
associated funerary objects are in the possession of the Washington 
State University, Museum of Anthropology, Pullman, WA. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from the Asotin 
cemetery site (45-AS-9) in Asotin County, WA.
    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 the 
professional staffs of the University of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers 
Laboratory of Anthropology in consultation with representatives of the 
Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho. A detailed assessment of the associated 
funerary objects was made by the professional staff of Washington State 
University, Museum of Anthropology in consultation with representatives 
of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation of Washington 
and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho.
    In 1956, human remains representing a minimum of 25 individuals 
were removed during archeological excavations at the Asotin cemetery 
site (45-AS-9). The Asotin cemetery site is located on private property 
in Asotin County, WA. The excavations were conducted under the 
direction of Dr. Richard D. Daughtery. No known individuals were 
identified. The 921 associated funerary items are 1 lot (0.1 g) of wood 
fragments; 14 stone flakes; 1 chalcedony geode; 2 projectile points; 1 
basalt blade; 1 pestle in 2 pieces; 1 basalt scraper; 19 flat shell 
beads; 175 whole dentalia shell beads; 1 lot (58.4 g) of dentalia shell 
bead fragments; 1 lot (3.3 g) of olivella shell fragments, 6 shell 
pendants; 218 elk tooth beads; 1 lot (62.9 g) of red ochre, 11 coffin 
nails; 105 brass beads; 1 metal bracelet covered with cotton canvas; 4 
brass bracelets; 48 buttons; 2 coiled wire necklaces; 1 brass hook and 
eye set; 1 brass bead necklace; 1 lot (36.4 g) of hawk bell fragments; 
1 brass powder horn cap; 1 powder or snuff can; 1 wire spring-like 
coil; 1 fragment of an ear or finger ring; 1 leather belt (in pieces) 
with a small brass buckle; 2 small unidentified metal fragments; 285 
glass beads; 1 lot (68.6 g) of very small glass beads; 1 round mirror 
glass; 1 lot (40.0 g) of beadwork on leather backing; 1 crockery 
marble; 1 complete necklace of glass, olivella, and metal beads; 1 lot 
(34.6 g) of leather fragments; 1 lot (50.9 g) of fabric fragments; 1 
lot (1.2 g) of ribbon fragments; 1 lot (0.1 g) of cotton string; 1 lot 
(31.9 g) of elk tooth bead fragments; and 4 hackberry seeds.
    The human remains were kept at the Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of 
Anthropology until 2000 when they were moved to Nez Perce National 
Historical Park, Spalding, ID. The Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of 
Anthropology has maintained control of the human remains. The National 
Park Service does not have sufficient legal interest to lawfully treat 
the human remains as part of its collection.
    Burial patterns and artifacts found at the site indicate that the 
burials removed from the Asotin cemetery site 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 the 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 was occupied 
exclusively by the Nez Perce at least since the mid-19th century.
    Officials of the University of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory 
of Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-
10), the human remains described above represent the physical remains 
of 25 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Washington State University, Museum of Anthropology have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 921 objects 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 the death rite 
or ceremony. Officials of the University of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers 
Laboratory of Anthropology and Washington State University, Museums of 
Anthropology 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 Confederated Tribes and 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 human remains should contact Leah 
Evans-Janke, Alfrew W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology, University of 
Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1111, telephone (208) 885-3733, before January 
9, 2004.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the associated 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 human remains and associated 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 Museum of Anthropology, Washington State University is 
responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho; Alfred W. Bowers 
Laboratory of Anthropology, University of Idaho; and U.S. Department of 
Interior, National Park Service, Nez Perce National Historical Park 
that this notice has been published.


[[Page 68953]]


    Dated: November 7, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-30566 Filed 12-9-03; 8:45 am]
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