[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 8634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3323]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Missouri-Columbia, 
Museum of Anthropology, Columbia, MO

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 University of Missouri-Columbia, 
Museum of Anthropology, Columbia, MO. The human remains were removed 
from the Utz site in Saline County, MO.
    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 the 
University of Missouri-Columbia professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Otoe-Missouria 
Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    In 1950, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
(accession number 23SA0002.121), and in 1973, human remains 
representing a minimum of two individuals (accession numbers 
23SA0002.120 and 23SA0002.249) were removed from site 23SA2 (Utz site), 
Saline County, MO, during excavations conducted by University of 
Missouri-Columbia professional staff, supervised field school students, 
and volunteers of the Missouri Archaeological Society. No known 
individuals were identified. The three associated funerary objects are 
two pieces of debitage and one soil sample.
    Based on oral tradition, types of associated funerary objects from 
other burials at the same site, and historical documents, this 
individual has been determined to be Native American. Based on 
radiocarbon dating, presence of trade objects, and historical 
documents, the Utz site has been identified as a village occupation 
estimated to date to approximately A.D. 1460-1712. Oral tradition, 
archeological evidence, and historical documents indicate that the Utz 
site was a village of the Missouria Tribe, and therefore, the burials 
are reasonably believed to be culturally affiliated with the Otoe-
Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    Officials of the University of Missouri-Columbia have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the University of Missouri-Columbia 
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the three 
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 University 
of Missouri-Columbia 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 Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, 
Oklahoma.
    Additional human remains and associated funerary objects from the 
Utz site (23SA0002) were described in three Notices of Inventory 
Completion published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2000 (FR doc. 
00-18137, page 44545), April 3, 2001 (FR doc. 01-8175, pages 17732-
17733), and March 7, 2003 (FR doc. 03-5515, page 11142).
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Dr. Michael O'Brien, Director, Museum of 
Anthropology, 317 Lowry Hall, University of Missouri-Columbia, 
Columbia, MO 65211, telephone (573) 882-4421, before March 24, 2005. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    University of Missouri-Columbia, Museum of Anthropology is 
responsible for notifying the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and Otoe-Missouria 
Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 14, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-3323 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am]
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