[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 24757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6263]


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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 in the possession of the 
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. The human remains 
were removed from Hancock County, ME.
    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. 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 Penobscot Tribe of Maine.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were collected from a shell heap on Pond Island, Blue Hill 
Bay, in Hancock County, ME, during an excavation sponsored by the 
Wilson Museum, Castine, ME. The individual who collected the human 
remains is unknown. In 1965, the human remains were accessioned into 
the American Museum of Natural History collections as a gift from the 
Wilson Museum and Ms. Norman W. Doudiet. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Geographic and temporal information suggest the human remains are 
from the postcontact territory of the Penobscot Indians. A radiocarbon 
date of 245120 years B.P. associated with the human remains places them 
in the postcontact period. During the postcontact period, the portion 
of Maine from which these human remains were recovered was part of the 
traditional territory of the Penobscot Indians.
    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 two individuals of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the American Museum of Natural History 
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 Native American human remains and the Penobscot Tribe of 
Maine.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains 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 May 26, 2006. Repatriation of the 
human remains to the Penobscot Tribe of Maine may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Penobscot Tribe of Maine that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 31, 2006.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-6263 Filed 4-25-06; 8:45 am]
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