[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 62 (Friday, April 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16839-16840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6460]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

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 Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from locations in Barnstable 
and Plymouth Counties, MA.
    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 and funerary objects was 
made by the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology professional staff 
in consultation with representatives of the Wampanoag Repatriation 
Confederation representing the Wampanoag Tribe of

[[Page 16840]]

Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group), and Assonet Band of the 
Wampanoag Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian group).
    In 1930, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Herring Weir site (19[macr]PL[macr]249/250), 
Mattapoisett, Plymouth County, MA, by Ralph Metcalf. The site was 
located at the top of a bank adjacent to a stream emptying into 
Mattapoisett Bay. In 1945, Maurice Robbins obtained the human remains 
and donated them to the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology in 
1950. No known individual was identified. The 23 associated funerary 
objects are 12 fragments of organic materials, including matting, 
animal skin, and an animal tooth; 4 copper fragments; 4 animal bones; 2 
pyrite fragments; and 1 lot of bark fragments.
    Other burials at the Herring Weir site contained objects of 
Euroamerican manufacture. Based on artifact typologies, the Herring 
Weir Site is dated to the Late Woodland/Early Contact period (circa 
A.D. 1000[macr]1650).
    In 1945 and 1949, human remains representing a minimum of three 
individuals were removed from the Taylor Hill site 
(19[macr]BN[macr]106), in Wellfleet, Barnstable County, MA, by Howard 
Torrey and Ripley Bullen and were donated to the Robert S. Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology at an unknown time. No known individuals were 
identified. The eight associated funerary objects are one harpoon 
point, two mollusk shells, one deer[macr]bone awl, two lots of animal 
bones, one projectile point, and one biface fragment.
    Based on artifact characteristics and radiocarbon dating, the 
Taylor Hill site is dated to the Late Middle Woodland to Late Woodland 
period (circa A.D. 500[macr]1500). Deer bone that was associated with 
the human remains from the site has been dated to A.D. 976[macr]1010 
(calibrated).
    In 1935, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Indian Cove Bluff site (19[macr]BN[macr]104), in 
Wellfleet, Barnstable County, MA, by Howard Torrey and were donated to 
the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology at an unknown time. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present
    Based on artifact characteristics and radiocarbon dating, the 
Indian Cove Bluff site is dated to the Late Middle Woodland to Late 
Woodland periods (circa A.D. 500[macr]1500).
    In 1915, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from the Corn Hill site (19[macr]BN[macr]144/45), in 
Truro, Barnstable County, MA, by Warren K. Moorehead and Fred Luce. 
Shortly afterwards, Mr. Luce donated the human remains to the Haverhill 
Historical Society. In 1993, the Haverhill Historical Society 
transferred the human remains and funerary objects to the Robert S. 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology. No known individuals were identified. 
The 53 associated funerary objects are 1 metal blade, approximately 50 
iron fragments, 1 lot of soil stained with ochre, and 1 lot of wood and 
bark fragments stained with ochre.
    Corn Hill is an historically documented Contact period site 
(post[macr]A.D. 1500).
    Increased frequency and longer[macr]term use of coastal areas by 
Native American people in the outer Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay, MA, area 
began in the Middle Woodland period. This pattern continued and 
intensified into the Contact Period. With the formation of highly 
productive and more stable salt[macr]marsh and estuary environments, 
long[macr]term occupation became a viable settlement option. The 
locally focused, year[macr]round exploitation of this environmental 
diversity first becomes visible in late Middle Woodland sites and 
continued to characterize Wampanoag subsistence patterns and apparent 
social organization throughout the Late Woodland/Contact periods. 
Concomitant with this evidence for year-round occupation are mortuary 
data that indicate a significantly different pattern than that evident 
on earlier sites in the same region. Wampanoag descendents are today 
represented by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of 
Massachusetts, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (a nonfederally recognized 
Indian group), and Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a nonfederally 
recognized Indian group).
    Officials of the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9[macr]10), the human 
remains described above represent the physical remains of seven 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Robert S. 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology also have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 84 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 Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology 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 Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of 
Massachusetts, and there is a cultural relationship between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and the Mashpee 
Wampanoag Tribe (a nonfederally recognized Indian group), and the 
Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian 
group).
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Malinda S. Blustain, Director, Robert S. Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA 01810, telephone 
(978) 749[macr]4490, before May 2, 2005. Repatriation of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Wampanoag Repatriation 
Confederation on behalf of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) 
of Massachusetts, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (a nonfederally recognized 
Indian group), and Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a nonfederally 
recognized Indian group) may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology is responsible for 
notifying the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, Wampanoag Tribe of 
Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (a 
nonfederally recognized Indian group), and the Assonet Band of the 
Wampanoag Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian group) that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: February 11, 2005.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-6460 Filed 3-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S