[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 44693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15318]



[[Page 44693]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: University of 
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA

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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate a cultural item in the possession of the University of 
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA 
that meets the definition of ``sacred objects'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    The one cultural item is a wooden bowl (UPM 29-48-301) 
created from a tree burl or knot. Cross hatching is visible on the 
outside surface of the bowl. The bowl also has a raised projection 
along one edge of the rim. It is possible that this projection was 
notched twice, but is now too worn down to make a positive 
determination.
    In 1910, Mark Raymond Harrington purchased the bowl (me te gwi na 
gun) from a Fox Chief, named Pushetonequa (Pu ci ta ni kwe), in Iowa 
during an ethnological expedition funded by George Gustav Heye, a 
member of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology Board of Overseers. At an unknown date, but probably in 
1911, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 
provided storage space for much of Mr. Heye's collection, including the 
bowl. On October 22, 1919, University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology formally received the bowl as part of an 
exchange with Mr. Heye. In 1930, the bowl was catalogued into the 
permanent collection.
    The cultural affiliation of the bowl is ``Fox'' or ``Meskwaki'' as 
indicated by museum records. Officials of the University of 
Pennsylvania Museum consulted with representatives of the Sac and Fox 
Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa. Based on consultation and available 
literature, wooden bowls of this type are needed by traditional 
Meskwaki (Fox) religious leaders in order to pray to and communicate 
with their gods. Bowls of this type were and still are used in many 
complex and traditional religious practices and ceremonies, such as the 
Sacred Bundle Ceremony, the Ceremonial Feast to Honor the Departed, the 
Ceremonial Naming Feast, the Return of the Name Feast, and Ceremonial 
Adoptions.
    Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology 
and Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(3)(C), the one cultural item described above is a specific ceremonial 
object needed by traditional Native American religious leaders for the 
practice of traditional Native American religions by their present-day 
adherents. Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology 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 bowl and the Sac and Fox Tribe of 
the Mississippi in Iowa. Lastly, officials of the University of 
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology have concluded 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (13), the University of Pennsylvania 
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has right of possession of the 
sacred object, but in recognition of the significance of the sacred 
object to the tribe's contemporary religious practices and its 
historical significance, consistent with the intent of NAGPRA, and in 
compromise, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology wishes to voluntarily return the bowl to the Sac and Fox 
Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred object should contact Dr. 
Richard M. Leventhal, The Williams Director, University of Pennsylvania 
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street, 
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6324, telephone (215) 898-4050, before September 
2, 2005. Repatriation of the sacred object to the Sac and Fox Tribe of 
the Mississippi in Iowa may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology is responsible for notifying the Sac and Fox Tribe of the 
Mississippi in Iowa that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 5, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program
[FR Doc. 05-15318 Filed 8-2-05; 8:45 am]
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