[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71947-71948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24614]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Field Museum of Natural History, 
Chicago, IL

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 Field Museum of Natural History, 
Chicago, IL. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Ontario County, NY.
    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 Field Museum 
of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe 
of Oklahoma, and Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York.
    At an unknown date prior to 1960, human remains representing a 
minimum of two individuals were removed from the McClure Farm in 
Ontario County, NY, by John G. Voigt. In 1960, the human remains were 
accessioned into the Field Museum of Natural History collections as a 
gift from Robert Grafe. No known individuals were identified. The three 
associated funerary objects are one triangular copper arrow point with 
hole, one bear tusk, and one metal bullet mold.
    The human remains are identified as Native American based on the 
specific cultural and geographic attribution in Field Museum of Natural 
History records. The human remains and associated funerary objects are

[[Page 71948]]

identified as ``Iroquois'' in Robert Grafe's notes. The McClure Farm is 
located in Ontario County, NY, (likely in the town of Phelps), which 
was the traditional territory of the Seneca people of the Iroquoian 
Confederacy. The human remains are dated to the historic period, based 
on the date of manufacture for the associated funerary objects. 
Descendants of the Seneca people are members of the Seneca Nation of 
New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and Tonawanda Band of Seneca 
Indians of New York.
    Officials of the Field 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 Field Museum of Natural History 
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the three 
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 Field 
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 Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New 
York.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Helen Robbins, Repatriation Specialist, Field 
Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 
60605-2496, telephone (312) 665-7317, before January 18, 2008. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: November 6, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-24614 Filed 12-18-07; 8:45 am]
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