[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 163 (Thursday, August 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 49483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19314]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Arkansas Highway and 
Transportation Department, Little Rock, AR

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 Arkansas Highway and Transportation 
Department, Little Rock, AR. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Poinsett County, AR.
    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 the Arkansas 
Highway and Transportation Department professional staff with 
assistance from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO, and in 
consultation with representatives of the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, 
Oklahoma.
    In 1988, human remains representing a minimum of 15 individuals 
were removed from the Priestly site (3PO490) in Poinsett County, AR, by 
the Center for Archaeological Research, Southwest Missouri State 
University, Springfield, MO. The human remains were sent to the 
University of Missouri, Columbia for analysis and curation. The human 
remains were transferred to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation in 
June 2004. No known individuals were identified. The 46 associated 
funerary objects are 2 Lander points, 1 Gary point, 42 plain shell-
tempered body sherds, and 1 plain shell-tempered sherd from the rim of 
a bowl.
    Archeological evidence indicates the human remains are Native 
American and are considered to be from an Emergent Mississippian 
culture. Judging from the context and radio-carbon dates obtained from 
various features at the site, the main component at the site and the 
human remains are thought to date between A.D. 750 to 1100.
    Oral history evidence presented by representatives of the Quapaw 
Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma indicates that the region has long been 
included in the traditional and hunting territory of the Quapaw. French 
colonial records from the 1700s also indicate that at that time, the 
Quapaw were the only Native American group present in the St. Frances 
River valley where the Priestly site is located. Based on geographical 
location, historical documents, and oral history, the human remains are 
most likely associated with the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    Officials of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of at least 15 
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Arkansas 
Highway and Transportation also have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 46 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 Arkansas Highway and Transportation 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 Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Diana Wilks, Arkansas Highway and Transportation 
Department, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203, telephone (501) 569-
2038, before September 22, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is responsible for 
notifying the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: July 28, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-19314 Filed 8-20-08; 8:45 am]
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