[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 168 (Thursday, August 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 50118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4263]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Safety Harbor Museum of Regional 
History, Safety Harbor, FL

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 control of Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History, 
Safety Harbor, FL. The human remains were removed from Pasco County, 
FL.
    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 Safety 
Harbor Museum of Regional History professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big 
Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations).
    In 1925, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from a farm near Elfers, Pasco County, FL, by a private 
land owner. The daughter of the land owner donated the human remains to 
an unnamed museum in Oldsmar, FL. Subsequently, the human remains were 
delivered by that museum to the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional 
History. In 2003, the human remains were found in the Safety Harbor 
Museum of Regional History's collection. Eight pottery sherds found 
with the human remains are reasonably believed to be associated 
funerary objects. No known individual was identified.
    Museum records indicate that the human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from ``Indian Mound - Feb. 7, 1925, 
Elfers, Fla.'' Based on dental morphology, the human remains are 
believed to be Native American. The associated funerary objects date to 
the Weeden Island Period (A.D. 200 - 900). The Tocobaga tribe inhabited 
the central Florida region during the Weeden Island Period. Although 
most of the Tocobaga perished within 200 years after the arrival of the 
Spanish explorers in the early part of the 16th century, it is 
reasonably believed that those that did survive assimilated into what 
became known as the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes. Historical and 
archeological evidence establish that Seminole and Miccosukee people 
have been residents in central and southern Florida for several hundred 
years. The Seminole and Miccosukee are represented today by the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; 
and Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood 
& Tampa Reservations).
    Officials of the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History 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 Safety Harbor Museum of 
Regional History also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(3)(A), the eight 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 Safety Harbor Museum of Regional 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 Miccosukee Tribe 
of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe 
of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa 
Reservations).
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Walter 
Bowman, Assistant Office Manager, Safety Harbor Museum of Regional 
History, 329 Bayshore Blvd. South, Safety Harbor, FL 34695, telephone 
(727) 726-1668, before October 1, 2007. Repatriation of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Miccosukee Tribe of 
Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of 
Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations) 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History is responsible for 
notifying Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, 
Hollywood & Tampa Reservations) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 8, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 07-4263 Filed 8-29-07; 8:45 am]
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