[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 54078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18083]


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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 and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Vernon 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, Museum of Anthropology professional 
staff in consultation with the Osage Tribe, Oklahoma.
    In 1963, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Hayes/Coal Pit site (23VE4), Vernon County, MO, 
during excavations conducted by University of Missouri-Columbia 
professional staff and supervised field school students. Other 
excavations at the site did not produce any evidence of human remains 
or burial areas. No known individuals were identified. The seven 
associated funerary objects are 3 silver ear bobs/tinklers, 3 small 
silver band fragments, and 1 small soil sample.
    Based on oral tradition, types of associated funerary objects, and 
historical documents this individual has been determined to be Native 
American. The Hayes/Coal Pit site has been identified as a Little Osage 
village with occupation approximately A.D. 1675 to A.D. 1806. Little 
Osage village is a village site of the Little Osage tribe based on the 
presence of trade objects, historical documents, oral tradition, and 
archeological evidence. Members of the federally recognized Osage 
Tribe, Oklahoma are the present-day descendants of the Little Osage 
tribe.
    Officials of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Museum of 
Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), 
the human remains described above represent the physical remains of one 
individual of Native American ancestry. Officials of the University of 
Missouri-Columbia, Museum of Anthropology also have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the seven 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, 
Museum of Anthropology 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 Osage Tribe, Oklahoma.
    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 October 13, 2005. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Osage Tribe, Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    University of Missouri-Columbia, Museum of Anthropology is 
responsible for notifying the Osage Tribe, Oklahoma that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: August 3, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-18083 Filed 9-12-05; 8:45 am]
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