[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60653-60654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-22837]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, Denver, CO

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 in the possession of the 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO. The human remains were 
removed from unspecified area(s) on or near the Rosebud Indian 
Reservation in South Dakota.
    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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Denver 
Museum of Nature & Science professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian 
Reservation, South Dakota.
    Between 1895 and 1899, human remains representing an unknown number 
of individuals were removed from an unspecified area on or near the 
Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The human remains are 16 
small fragments of long bones, 5 teeth, part of a mandible, and 2 
vertebrae. Jesse H. Bratley obtained the human remains and three pieces 
of animal bone while teaching at the Lower Cut Meat School on the 
Rosebud Indian Reservation. Based on museum records, the human remains 
probably were not removed from a burial context. At Mr. Bratley's death 
in 1948, the human remains came into the possession of Mr. Bratley's 
daughter, Hazel Bratley. In 1961, Mary W.A. Crane and Francis V. Crane 
purchased the human remains from Ms. Bratley. In 1983, the Cranes 
donated the human remains to the museum as part of the Jesse H. Bratley 
Collection and the museum accessioned the human remains into the 
collection in the same year. No known individual(s) was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains were probably collected from the ground surface. 
Museum records, consultation with tribal leaders and elders of the 
Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota, 
and examination by a physical anthropologist indicate that the human 
remains are Native American. Based on museum records, physical 
evidence, and information obtained during consultation, the human 
remains most likely date from A.D. 1800 to 1890. Mr. Bratley collected 
directly from the Rosebud Sioux during the time he lived and taught at 
Lower Cut Meat Creek.

[[Page 60654]]

During consultation, tribal officials and elders suggested that the 
human remains are from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian 
Reservation, South Dakota.
    Between 1895 and 1899, human remains representing the fragmentary 
and commingled remains of a minimum of three individuals were removed 
from an unspecified area on or near the Rosebud Indian Reservation in 
South Dakota. Jesse H. Bratley obtained the human remains sometime 
while teaching at the Lower Cut Meat School on the Rosebud Indian 
Reservation. At Mr. Bratley's death in 1948, the human remains came 
into the possession of Mr. Bratley's daughter, Hazel Bratley. In 1961, 
Mary W.A. Crane and Francis V. Crane purchased the human remains from 
Ms. Bratley. In 1983, the Cranes donated the human remains to the 
museum and the museum accessioned the human remains into the collection 
in the same year. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Morphological evidence suggests scaffold[macr]type burials and 
staining indicative of copper ornaments. Museum records, consultation 
with tribal leaders and elders of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the 
Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota, and examination by a physical 
anthropologist indicate that the human remains are Native American. 
Based on museum records, physical evidence, and information obtained 
during consultation, the human remains most likely date from A.D. 1800 
to 1890. Mr. Bratley collected directly from the Rosebud Sioux during 
the time he lived and taught at Lower Cut Meat Creek. During 
consultation, tribal officials and elders suggested that the human 
remains are from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian 
Reservation, South Dakota.
    Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001, (9[macr]10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of at least four 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Denver Museum 
of Nature & Science 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 Native American human remains and the 
Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Ella 
Maria Ray, NAGPRA Officer, Department of Anthropology, Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone 
(303) 370[macr]6056, before November 12, 2004. Repatriation of the 
human remains to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian 
Reservation, South Dakota may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota 
that this notice has been published.

    September 15, 2004.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 04-22837 Filed 10-8-04; 8:45 am]
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