[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 62 (Friday, April 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16842-16843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6465]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: The University Museum, University 
of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

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 Museum, University of 
Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. The human remains were removed from sites 
in Conway, Pulaski, and Yell Counties, AR.
    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 University 
of Arkansas professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Osage Tribe, Oklahoma; Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and 
Tunica[macr]Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed during a museum[macr]sponsored excavation at 
the Keo site in Pulaski County, AR. The human remains became part of 
the University of Arkansas collection by 1964. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed during museum[macr]sponsored excavations from 
the Point Remove site (3CN4), located south of Morrilton, Conway 
County, AR. The human remains became part of the University of Arkansas 
collection in 1931 and 1966. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present. Diagnostic artifacts found at 
the Point Remove site indicate that the human remains were probably 
buried during the Mississippian period (A.D. 900[macr]1541).
    On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from an unspecified site in Conway County, AR. 
The human remains became part of the University of Arkansas collection 
in 1929. No known individual was identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a ceramic water bottle with incised decoration. The 
associated funerary object indicates that the human remains were 
probably buried during the Mississippian period (A.D. 900[macr]1541).
    On an unknown date, human remains representing six individuals were 
removed during a museum[macr]sponsored excavation at the Carden Bottoms 
site (3YE14) in Yell County, AR. The human remains became part of the 
University of Arkansas collection in 1927 and 1931. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. Diagnostic artifacts found at the Carden Bottoms site (3YE14) 
indicate that these human remains were probably buried during the 
Mississippian period (A.D. 900[macr]1541).
    On an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
removed during a museum[macr]sponsored excavation at the Delaware Creek 
site (3YE6) in Yell County, AR. The human remains became part of the 
University of Arkansas collection in 1967. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Diagnostic 
artifacts found at the Delaware Creek site indicate that these human 
remains were probably buried during the Mississippian period (A.D. 
900[macr]1541).
    On an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
removed from an unspecified site in Yell County, AR. The human remains 
became part of the University of Arkansas collection in 1928. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

[[Page 16843]]

    Physical examination of the human remains reveals skeletal and 
dental morphological traits common in Native American populations. The 
human remains and associated funerary object are believed to be 
associated with the Carden Bottoms complex, a Mississippian period 
archeological manifestation common along the Lower Arkansas River, 
including the area of Conway, Pulaski, and Yell Counties, Arkansas. The 
identity of the Carden Bottoms complex descendents is controversial. In 
1542 and 1673, European travelers recorded the names of towns along the 
lower Arkansas River that appear to be derived from the Tunica 
language. Carden Bottoms complex ceramic traditions are similar to 
ceramic wares recovered from known 18th[macr]century Tunica sites. 
Quapaw oral traditions describe their late arrival and expulsion of the 
Tunica from the lower Arkansas River area. The Quapaw tribe dominated 
that area when sustained European occupation of the lower Arkansas 
River began around 1700. The Osage tribe seasonally hunted the Ozark 
Highlands north of the Arkansas River Valley in the 18th century and 
traveled along the Arkansas River. In 1808. the Osage ceded the area 
north of the Arkansas River, including the area of Conway County, to 
the United States. In 1818, the Quapaw ceded the area south of the 
Arkansas River, including the area of Pulaski and Yell Counties, to the 
United States.
    Officials of the University of Arkansas have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9[macr]10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of 12 individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the University of Arkansas also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the one object 
described above is reasonably believed to have been placed with or near 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony. Lastly, officials of the University of Arkansas 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 
object and the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma and the 
Tunica[macr]Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Mary 
Suter, Curator of Collections, The University Museum, University of 
Arkansas, Biomass Research Center, Fayetteville, AR 72701, telephone 
(479) 575[macr]3456, before May 2, 2005. Repatriation of the human 
remains to the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma and the 
Tunica[macr]Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The University of Arkansas is responsible for notifying the Osage 
Tribe, Oklahoma; Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and 
Tunica[macr]Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: February 4, 2005.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-6465 Filed 3-31-05; 8:45 am]
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