[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42771-42772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16151]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

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 in the possession of the American Museum of Natural History, 
New York, NY. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Clallam 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 in 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 in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by American 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington; Lower 
Elwha Tribal Community of the Lower Elwha Reservation, Washington; 
Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation, Washington; Nooksack Indian Tribe 
of Washington; Port Gamble Indian Community of the Port Gamble 
Reservation, Washington; Samish Indian Tribe, Washington; Stillaguamish 
Tribe of Washington; Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation, 
Washington; Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington; and 
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe of Washington.
    In 1899, human remains representing a minimum of 64 individuals 
were removed from the surface of a sand spit in Dungeness, Clallam 
County, WA, by Harlan I. Smith during the Jesup North Pacific 
Expedition directed by Franz Boas of the American Museum of Natural 
History. No known individuals were identified. The 27 associated 
funerary objects are 1 dentalia shell bead, 2 shell pendants, 2 shell 
pieces, 1 harpoon barb, 20 pieces of animal bone, and 1 pestle.
    Based on manner of interment, the presence of cranial shaping, and 
type of funerary objects present, the human remains have been 
identified as Native American. Geographic location is consistent with 
the postcontact territory of S'Klallam people. A postcontact S'Klallam 
village was located near Dungeness. Some of the graves were covered 
with boards fastened together with iron nails. The use of sand spits 
and wood boxes for burial is consistent with postcontact S'Klallam 
practice.
    In 1899, human remains representing a minimum of 85 individuals 
were removed from the surface of a bluff in Dungeness, Clallam County, 
WA, by Harlan I. Smith during the Jesup North Pacific Expedition. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on manner of interment, the human remains have been 
identified as Native American. The individuals were collected from the 
surface, which might indicate a relatively recent age consistent with 
canoe or scaffold-type burials. Geographic location is consistent with 
the postcontact territory of the S'Klallam. A postcontact S'Klallam 
village was located near Dungeness. The use of canoe or box burials, 
which might result in such a surface assemblage, is consistent with 
postcontact S'Klallam practice.
    In 1899, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from a shell heap in Dungeness, Clallam County, WA, by 
Harlan I. Smith during the Jesup North Pacific Expedition. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on manner of interment and the presence of cranial shaping, 
the human remains have been identified as Native American. The 
collector indicated that the human remains are likely to be of recent 
age. Geographic location is consistent with the postcontact territory 
of the S'Klallam. The use of sand spits for burial is consistent with 
postcontact S'Klallam practice. A postcontact S'Klallam village was 
located near Dungeness.
    In 1899, human remains representing a minimum of 238 individuals 
were removed from the surface of a sand spit in Port Williams, Clallam 
County, WA, by Harlan I. Smith during the Jesup North Pacific 
Expedition. No known individuals were identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a pestle.
    Based on manner of interment, presence of cranial shaping, and type 
of funerary object present, the human remains have been identified as 
Native American. Geographic location is consistent with the postcontact 
territory of the S'Klallam. A postcontact S'Klallam village was located 
near Port Williams. Most of the human remains were collected from the 
surface, which might indicate a relatively recent age consistent with 
canoe or scaffold-type burials. Museum documentation indicates that one 
burial contained glass beads, which were not collected.
    Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 390 individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the American Museum of Natural 
History

[[Page 42772]]

have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 28 
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. Lastly, officials of the American 
Museum of Natural History 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 Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of 
Washington; Lower Elwha Tribal Community of the Lower Elwha 
Reservation, Washington; and Port Gamble Indian Community of the Port 
Gamble Reservation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Nell Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources, 
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 
New York, NY 10024-5192, telephone (212) 769-5837 before August 16, 
2004. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
to the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington; Lower Elwha Tribal 
Community of the Lower Elwha Reservation, Washington; and Port Gamble 
Indian Community of the Port Gamble Reservation, Washington may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington; Lower Elwha Tribal 
Community of the Lower Elwha Reservation, Washington; Lummi Tribe of 
the Lummi Reservation, Washington; Nooksack Indian Tribe of Washington; 
Port Gamble Indian Community of the Port Gamble Reservation, 
Washington; Samish Indian Tribe, Washington; Stillaguamish Tribe of 
Washington; Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation, Washington; 
Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, Washington; and Upper Skagit 
Indian Tribe of Washington that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 28, 2004
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-16151 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
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