[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61835-61837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21330]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural
History, New York, NY
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 American Museum of Natural History,
New York, NY. The human remains and associated funerary objects were
removed from Yakima and Kittitas Counties, WA.
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 American
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation,
Washington; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation,
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of
Oregon; Hoh Indian Tribe of the Hoh Indian Reservation, Washington;
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington; Lower Elwha Tribal Community
of the Lower Elwha Reservation, Washington; Lummi Tribe of the Lummi
Reservation, Washington; Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian
Reservation, Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot
Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually
Reservation, Washington; Nooksack Indian Tribe of Washington; Port
Gamble Indian Community of the Port Gamble Reservation, Washington;
Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington; Quileute Tribe
of the Quileute Reservation, Washington; Quinault Tribe of the Quinault
Reservation, Washington; Samish Indian Tribe, Washington; Shoalwater
Bay Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation, Washington;
Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation, Washington;
Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation, Washington;
Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington; Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish
Reservation, Washington; Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation,
Washington; and Upper Skagit Indian Tribe of Washington.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals
were collected from a site on the north side of River Road, east of the
North and South Branch Road, in the vicinity of Tampico, Yakima County,
WA, by Harlan I. Smith. No known individuals were identified. The 31
associated funerary objects are 1 bone point, 25 dentalium shells (10
of them engraved), 4 pieces of charcoal, and 1 bone.
These individuals have been identified as Native American based on
geographic and archeological evidence. The human remains were recovered
from a volcanic ash knoll. The lack of postcontact artifacts, the
presence of incised dentalium shells, and the form of interment in a
river valley location suggest a late precontact date for the remains.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were collected from a site in the vicinity of North Yakima, east of the
mouth of the Naches River, north side of a hill, Yakima County, WA, by
Harlan I. Smith. No known individual was identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
The individual has been identified as Native American based on
geographic evidence and burial practice. The use of
[[Page 61836]]
a rockslide grave suggests a late precontact date for the remains.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were collected from the James McWhirter 20 Acre Farm, in the vicinity
of North Yakima, Yakima County, WA, by Harlan I. Smith. The site is 12
miles up the Naches River along the north side, on the crest of a
foothill terrace. No known individual was identified. The one
associated funerary object is a shell disk.
The individual has been identified as Native American based on
geographic evidence and burial practice. The lack of post-contact
artifacts, the presence of a cut disk shell bead, and the river valley
location of the bluff pebble grave suggest a late precontact date for
the human remains.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were collected from a site at Priest Rapids, Kittitas County, WA, by
Harlan I. Smith. The site is along the western bank of the Columbia
River, 5 miles south of Mr. Craig's house. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
The individual has been identified as Native American based on
geographic evidence and burial practice. The remains were found in a
sand grave covered with flat river stones. The location of the grave in
a river valley suggests a late precontact date for the remains.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were collected from a site at Priest Rapids, Kittitas County(?), WA, by
Harlan I. Smith. The site is at the edge of the Columbia River, 12
miles north of Mr. Craig's house. No known individual was identified.
The four associated funerary objects are one stone mortar and three
pestles.
The individual has been identified as Native American based on
geographic evidence and burial practice. The remains were found in a
sand grave covered with river cobbles. The location of the grave in a
river valley suggests a late precontact date for the remains.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were collected from a site 10 miles north of the head of Priest Rapids
on the Columbia River, 8 miles above Mr. Craig's house, Kittitas
County, WA, by Harlan I. Smith. No known individual was identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
The individual has been identified as Native American based on the
talus slope inhumation, a form of burial consistent with the
postcontact practices of Sahaptin speakers of the area. The presence of
cedar slabs in the grave also suggests a postcontact date for these
remains. The cedar slabs are not part of the museum's collection.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals
were collected from the east side of an escarpment running south of the
Columbia River, near the head of Priest Rapids, 2 miles southwest of
Mr. Craig's house, Kittitas County, WA, by Harlan I. Smith. No known
individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects are
one roll of birch bark and one piece of stitched rush matting.
The individuals have been identified as Native American based on
the kinds of associated funerary objects and burial type. The remains
were found interred in a talus slope, a form of burial consistent with
the postcontact practices of Sahaptin speakers of the area. The
presence of upright wood posts, bark, and matting in the grave also
suggests a postcontact date for the remains. The wood posts are not
part of the museum's collection.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of 10 individuals
were collected from Mr. Bull's farm, 7 miles south of Ellensburg,
Kittitas County, WA, by Harlan I. Smith. The site is east of Cherry
Creek in the western extension of the Saddle Mountains. No known
individuals were identified. The 1295 associated funerary objects are 5
pieces of leather, 109 shells, 28 glass beads, 3 iron bracelets, 1
perforated bone disk, 1 freshwater shell fragment, 1 reed mat fragment,
1 reed mat fragment with hide and copper and shell beads, 1 piece of
animal fur, 3 pieces of matting, 1098 copper, glass, and shell beads
strung on fiber and leather, 4 shell ornaments (including 1 nose
ornament), 2 copper pendants, 4 metal bracelets, 5 rodent teeth, 1
copper disk pendant, 1 wood knot hole, 1 piece of iron, 1 fragment of
fabric incorporating feathers and fur, 1 copper ornament, 1 brass
pendant with copper head, 1 metal pendant with leather thong, 1 piece
of shell, 13 iron cones, 2 iron pendants, 2 antler fragments, 1
triangular copper object, 2 shell pendants, and 1 unidentified shell
object.
The individuals have been identified as Native American based on
the kinds of associated funerary objects and type of burial. The
presence of postcontact funerary objects and the use of talus slope for
interment suggest a postcontact date for these remains.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were collected from a site on the south side of Yakima Ridge, Yakima
County, WA, by Harlan I. Smith. The site is 1 mile east of the
confluence of the Yakima and Naches Rivers. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
This individual has been identified as Native American based on
geographic information and burial type. The remains were found in a
talus slope, which suggests a postcontact age. The presence of rush
matting in the grave also suggests a postcontact date for the remains.
The rush matting is not part of the museum's collection.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of four individuals
were collected from a site on the north side of the Naches River, 1/2
mile above the confluence of the Yakima and Naches Rivers, Yakima
County, WA, by Harlan I. Smith. No known individuals were identified.
The 91 associated funerary objects are 4 wooden pieces of a fire drill,
20 dog or wolf bones, 1 partial decorated bow, 3 basket fragments, 1
fragment of rush mat, approximately 50 copper tubes and beads, 4 bone
tubes, 1 bone point, 1 perforated stone cylinder, 3 stone flakes, and 3
projectile points.
The individuals have been identified as Native American based on
the type of associated funerary objects and the form of burial. The two
graves were talus slope interments of a form used by the postcontact
Shahaptin speakers who occupied the area. The associated funerary
objects also suggest a postcontact date for the remains.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals
were collected from a site in the vicinity of Selah, Yakima County, WA,
by Harlan I. Smith. No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
The individuals have been identified as Native American based on
the form of burial. The graves were talus slope interments of a form
used by the postcontact Sahaptin speakers who occupied the area. The
presence of wood in both graves, and leather and desiccated soft tissue
in one grave may suggest a postcontact date for the remains. The wood
and leather are not part of the museum's collection.
In 1903, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were collected from a site 2 miles northeast of the mouth of the
Naches, south of the Yakima River in Yakima County, WA, by Harlan I.
Smith. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
[[Page 61837]]
The individual has been identified as Native American based on the
form of burial. The grave was a talus slope interment of a form used by
the postcontact Sahaptin speakers who occupied the area. The presence
of pieces of cedar in the grave suggests a postcontact date for the
remains. The pieces of cedar are not part of the museum's collection.
The geographic location of all of the sites described above is
consistent with the early postcontact territory of Sahaptin speakers
who are ancestors of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
Nation, Washington. The burial type described by Mr. Smith for all of
the remains reported here is consistent with the late precontact and
postcontact burial practices of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of
the Yakama Nation, Washington. Experts in Oregon Plateau archeology
suggest that there has been cultural continuity from late precontact to
the postcontact period in this area.
Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described
above represent the physical remains of 30 individuals of Native
American ancestry. Officials of the American Museum of Natural History
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 1,424
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 American
Museum of Natural History 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 Confederated Tribes and Bands of
the Yakama Nation, Washington.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Nell Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources,
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street,
New York, NY 10024-5192, telephone (212) 769-5837, before November 25,
2005. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying
the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Hoh
Indian Tribe of the Hoh Indian Reservation, Washington; Jamestown
S'Klallam Tribe of Washington; Lower Elwha Tribal Community of the
Lower Elwha Reservation, Washington; Lummi Tribe of the Lummi
Reservation, Washington; Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian
Reservation, Washington; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot
Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually
Reservation, Washington; Nooksack Indian Tribe of Washington; Port
Gamble Indian Community of the Port Gamble Reservation, Washington;
Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington; Quileute Tribe
of the Quileute Reservation, Washington; Quinault Tribe of the Quinault
Reservation, Washington; Samish Indian Tribe, Washington; Shoalwater
Bay Tribe of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation, Washington;
Skokomish Indian Tribe of the Skokomish Reservation, Washington;
Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation, Washington;
Stillaguamish Tribe of Washington; Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish
Reservation, Washington; Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation,
Washington; and Upper Skagit Indian Tribe of Washington that this
notice has been published.
Dated: September 30, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 05-21330 Filed 10-25-05; 8:45 am]
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