[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]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S