[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 55460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20652]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Springfield Science Museum, 
Springfield, MA; Correction

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; correction

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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 Springfield Science Museum, 
Springfield, MA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Hampden and Hampshire Counties, MA, and from unknown 
locations in western Massachusetts.
    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.
    This notice corrects information in a notice of inventory 
completion published in the Federal Register on August 20, 2003 (FR 
Doc. 03-21336, pages 50184-50186). This notice adds the Narragansett 
Indian Tribe of Rhode Island and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head 
(Aquinnah) of Massachusetts to the Native American tribes that were 
consulted, to whom a relationship of shared group identity can be 
traced, to whom repatriation may proceed, and who shall be notified 
that the notice was published.
    Paragraph 3 of the August 20, 2003, notice is corrected by 
substituting the following paragraph:
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Springfield 
Science Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island; Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin; and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of 
Massachusetts.
    The last four paragraphs (paragraphs 47-50) of the August 20, 2003, 
notice are corrected by substituting the following paragraphs:
    Based on historic documentation, geographic location of the 
burials, and oral history, the human remains and associated funerary 
objects described above are most likely to be culturally affiliated 
with the present-day Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island; 
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin; and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay 
Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts. Oral tradition and historic evidence 
indicate that the Narragansetts were involved in wampum production and 
distribution in western Massachusetts during the Contact and Early 
Historic periods. Historic evidence indicates that the Narragansetts 
engaged in battles in western Massachusetts during King Philip's War 
(1676-1677). All of the western Massachusetts sites described above lie 
within the known homeland of the Mohican Indians. Occupation of the 
area by the Mohican Indians is well documented for the Historic period, 
and Mohican oral history maintains that there is also prehistoric 
occupation in the Hudson and Connecticut River Valleys. The Mohican 
Indians are represented today by the Stockbridge Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin. Oral tradition indicates that the Connecticut River Valley 
was considered a sacred area by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head. 
Historic evidence indicates that the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head 
engaged in battles in western Massachusetts during King Philip's War 
(1667-1677).
    Officials of the Springfield Science Museum have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of 84 individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Springfield Science Museum also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 321 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 the Springfield Science 
Museum 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 Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island; Stockbridge 
Munsee Community, Wisconsin; and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head 
(Aquinnah) of Massachusetts.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact David Stier, Director, Springfield Science 
Museum, 220 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103, telephone (413) 263- 
6800, extension 321, before October 14, 2004. Repatriation of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Narragansett Indian 
Tribe of Rhode Island; Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin; and the 
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Springfield Science Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island; Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin; and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of 
Massachusetts that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 12, 2004.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 04-20652 Filed 9-13-04; 8:45 am]
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