[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 145 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41522-41524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14578]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

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 cultural items in the possession of the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA that meet 
the definition of ``unassociated funerary objects'' under 25 U.S.C. 
3001.

[[Page 41523]]

    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 39 cultural items are stone effigy pendants, glass and shell 
beads, ceramic sherds, projectile points, bone fragments, metal bells, 
one worked stone, one ceramic pipe, and one pipe stem fragment.
    In 1872, one cultural item was recovered from an unknown location 
in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and F.W. Putnam. It was 
donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the 
Peabody Museum Salem (now the Peabody Essex Museum) through Ernest 
Dodge in 1952. The one unassociated funerary object is a stone effigy 
pendant depicting a face.
    In 1877, one cultural item was recovered from an unknown location 
in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and donated to the 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Mr. Abbott later that 
same year. The one unassociated funerary object is a stone effigy 
pendant depicting a face.
    In 1877, one cultural item was recovered from an unknown location 
in Vincentown, Burlington County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and donated to the 
Peabody Museum by Mr. Abbott later that same year. The one unassociated 
funerary object is a stone effigy pendant depicting a face.
    In 1877, one cultural item was likely recovered from ``Indian 
burial ground'' in Vincentown, Burlington County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott 
and donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Mr. 
Abbott later that same year. The unassociated funerary object is a 
stone effigy pendant depicting a face.
    The four cultural items described above most likely date to the 
Middle Woodland period or later (post-A.D. 0). Archeological evidence 
suggests that face effigy pendants were used by the Delaware people 
during the Middle Woodland period or later. Consultation, 
archeological, and ethnographic evidence indicates that these kinds of 
effigy pendants are known as Mesingw and may be symbolically associated 
with the Big House Ceremony that likely developed during the Late 
Woodland or Contact periods (A.D. 1000 - 1500).
    In 1879, one cultural item was recovered from an unknown location 
in Chester County, PA, by Isaac Kirk during a Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology expedition led by C.C. Abbott. The 
unassociated funerary object is one set of glass and shell beads.
    The cultural item most likely dates to the Contact period or later 
(post-A.D. 1500), as glass beads were introduced by Europeans as trade 
items in the post-Contact period.
    In 1895, eight cultural items were recovered from the Lalor Field 
site in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by Ernest Volk during a Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology expedition led by Mr. Volk. The 
eight unassociated funerary objects are five lots of ceramic sherds, 
two projectile points, and one ceramic pot base.
    The cultural items most likely date to the Middle or Late Woodland 
periods (A.D. 0 - 1500) and the decoration and/or fabric of the ceramic 
sherds support this date.
    In 1909, 20 cultural items were recovered from the A.K. Rowan Farm 
site and ``burial place near old house'' in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, 
by Ernest Volk and R.E. Merwin during a Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology expedition led by Mr. Volk and Mr. Merwin. The 20 
unassociated funerary objects are 6 projectile points, 1 stone scraper, 
1 set of glass beads, 4 lots of ceramic sherds, 2 worked bone 
fragments, 3 metal bells, 1 worked stone, 1 stone effigy pendant 
depicting a face, and 1 kaolin pipe stem fragment.
    The cultural items most likely date to the Middle Woodland through 
Contact periods (A.D. 0 - 1500). The shape of the bifacial lithics 
(lancelet, small triangular) date to the Middle Woodland period (A.D. 0 
- 1000). Brass and European copper objects, glass beads, and Dutch 
kaolin trade pipes date to the Contact period (A.D. 1500). 
Archeological evidence suggests that face effigy pendants were used by 
the Delaware people during the Middle Woodland period or later. 
Consultation, archeological, and ethnographic evidence indicates that 
these kinds of effigy pendants are known as Mesingw and may be 
symbolically associated with the Big House Ceremony that likely 
developed during the Late Woodland or Contact periods (A.D. 1000 - 
1500).
    In 1911, two cultural items were recovered from the Riverview 
Cemetery, on the south shore of the Delaware River, in Trenton, Mercer 
County, NJ, by Frank Wachter. They were donated to the Peabody Museum 
of Archaeology and Ethnology by Mr. Wachter through Ernest Volk in 
1912. The two unassociated funerary objects are one set of glass beads 
and one kaolin pipe.
    The cultural items most likely date to the early Contact period or 
later (post-A.D. 1500). Glass beads and kaolin pipes were introduced by 
Europeans as trade items in the post-Contact period.
    Between 1888 and 1917, three cultural items were recovered from the 
Lalor Field site in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and 
Ernest Volk. They were donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology by Mr. Abbott at an unknown date and accessioned into the 
Museum's collection in 1952. The three unassociated funerary objects 
are three lots of ceramic sherds.
    Between 1888 and 1917, one cultural item was recovered from 
Deutzville in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and 
Ernest Volk. It was donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology by Mr. Abbott at an unknown date and accessioned into the 
Museum's collection in 1952. The unassociated funerary object is one 
lot of ceramic sherds.
    The four cultural items most likely date to the Middle or Late 
Woodland periods (A.D. 0 - 1500), as suggested by the decoration and/or 
fabric of the sherds.
    Museum documentation indicates that the 39 cultural items described 
above were recovered from burial contexts. The Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology is not in possession of the human remains 
from these burials. Archeological evidence, museum documentation, and 
oral histories indicate that the cultural items are from areas 
considered to be aboriginal homelands and traditional burial areas of 
the Delaware people.
    Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 39 cultural 
items 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of 
the evidence, to have been removed from specific burial sites of Native 
American individuals. Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology 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 unassociated funerary objects and the 
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, on behalf of the Delaware Tribe of Indians; 
and Delaware Nation, Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Patricia Capone, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody

[[Page 41524]]

Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity 
Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 496-3702, before August 
29, 2007. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the 
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, on behalf of the Delaware Tribe of Indians; 
and Delaware Nation, Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is responsible for 
notifying the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; and 
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: June 27, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-14578 Filed 7-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S