[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65876-65879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26350]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 
Bushkill, PA

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 U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 
Bushkill, PA. The

[[Page 65877]]

human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from sites 
in Monroe County, PA; Pike County, PA; Warren County, NJ; and Sussex 
County, NJ.
    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 
superintendent, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects was made by Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma (now part of the 
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma); and Stockbridge Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin. When consultation was initiated, the Delaware Tribe of 
Indians, Oklahoma was Federally recognized. During consultations, court 
rulings determined that the Delaware Tribe cannot be recognized as a 
separate entity from the Cherokee Nation and that the Delaware Tribe is 
a part of the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma. The Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of 
Indians of Oklahoma; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; and Shawnee 
Tribe, Oklahoma were invited to consult, but declined to participate.
    In 1962, Congress passed a bill authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers to construct a dam on the Delaware River in the vicinity of 
the Delaware Water Gap. Archeological mitigation began that same year 
in advance of the dam construction. The Delaware Water Gap National 
Recreation Area was established in 1965, but the dam was never 
constructed. The land and collections from the recreation area were 
transferred to the National Park Service in 1978.
    In 1962 and 1963, human remains representing a minimum of 14 
individuals were removed during legally authorized excavations at the 
Pahaquarra site (28Wa06) in Warren County, NJ. The excavations were 
conducted by the New Jersey State Museum under the direction of 
Patricia Marchiando and supervised by William Sloshberg. No known 
individuals were identified. The 378 associated funerary objects are 6 
bags and 2 fragments of non-human bone; 3 bags of shell; 1 bag of 
charred beans; 7 bags of charcoal; 2 bags of charred nutshell; 1 bag of 
unidentified organic material; 6 projectile points or projectile point 
fragments (Archaic, Middle Woodland, Late Woodland); 9 untyped 
projectile point fragments; 1 untyped biface fragment; 7 scraper or 
scraper fragments; 26 flakes or flake fragments; 1 core fragment; 1 
chert nodule; 1 piece of debitage; 2 hammerstones; 1 mano; 6 
netsinkers; 1 pestle; 8 worked stone and worked stone fragments; 1 
stone fragment; 2 pebble or pebble fragments; 1 bag and 15 pieces of 
fire-cracked rock; 253 Late Woodland sherds; 10 fragments of native-
made ceramic pipes; 1 turtle shell vessel; and 3 quartz crystal 
fragments.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
The burial styles and diagnostic associated funerary objects, including 
a Syracuse Lawson sherd, Owasco Corded pottery, and two Levanna points, 
indicate that these human remains were buried during the Late Woodland 
Period (A.D. 1000-1650). The presence of Poplar Island, Eshback, 
Brewerton, and Fox Creek projectile points is due to the disturbance of 
Archaic and Middle Woodland features during the Late Woodland Period. 
Tribal representatives have indicated that the presence of artifacts 
from earlier periods is intentional, resulting from the act of burial, 
and have identified all objects in the soil matrix surrounding a burial 
as associated funerary objects.
    In 1972, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from the Pahaquarra site (28Wa06) in Warren County, NJ, 
during legally authorized excavations by Seton Hall University under 
the direction of Herbert Kraft. No known individuals were identified. 
The 4,564 associated funerary objects are 1 bag of bark wrapping 
fragments; 4 pieces of charred hickory nutshell; 1 biface fragment; 
4,419 glass trade beads (including white, green, yellow or blue seed 
beads; white wire-wound round beads; blue or red faceted beads; blue or 
white barrel-shaped ``imitation wampum''; blue drawn disc-shaped beads; 
and a round black bead); 8 runtees and runtee fragments; 38 shell hair 
pipes and fragments of shell hair pipes; 28 rings or ring fragments 
(some simple brass bands, some Jesuit, one with a glass bead ``jewel'' 
insert); 1 King George medal; 3 clasp knives; 1 sheath knife; 1 latch 
and handle from a ``jewel box''; 2 pairs of scissors; 45 coffin nails; 
3 lead baling seal fragments; 1 unidentified metal fragment with beads 
adhering to it; 1 needle and nail fused together; 1 mirror fragment; 1 
soil sample; 1 bag of bark, organic material and seed beads; 1 bag of 
wood fragments; 1 bag of wood fragments and vermillion; and 2 bags of 
vermillion.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
The associated funerary objects date these burials to the Historic 
Period (circa A.D. 1650-1750). The lead baling seals, clasp knife, seed 
beads and blue faceted glass beads suggest that one burial dates to the 
early 18th century. The King George medal, Jesuit rings, seed beads, 
wire-wound white beads, and blue faceted beads suggest that the second 
burial dates between A.D. 1714 and circa 1740.
    In 1964, 1968 and 1972, human remains representing a minimum of 
four individuals were removed from the Faucett site (36Pi13A) in Pike 
County, PA, during legally authorized excavations by Dr. Fred Kinsey of 
Franklin and Marshall College. No known individuals were identified. 
The four associated funerary objects are one untyped Late Woodland 
rimsherd, one lithic fragment, and two flotation samples.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
In the site report, Kinsey identified these human remains as being from 
Late Woodland Period burials (A.D. 1000-1650). Diagnostic ceramics and 
the style and depth of the burials support this interpretation.
    In 1965, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Friedman II site (28Sx16) in Sussex County, NJ, 
during legally authorized excavations by the New Jersey State Museum, 
supervised by Patricia Marchiando. No known individual was identified. 
The three associated funerary objects are one white clay pipe, one 
pestle fragment, and one flat stone.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
The white clay pipe contains diagnostic features of Dutch pipes and 
dates to the 17th century.
    In 1965, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from the Friedman Knoll (Friedman I) site (28Sx12), Sussex 
County, NJ, during legally authorized excavations by the New Jersey 
State Museum, supervised by Patricia Marchiando. No known individuals 
were identified. The 16 associated funerary objects are 12 coffin 
nails, 1 iron belt buckle, 1 scraper, 1 untyped side-notched point, and 
1 untyped stemmed point.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
The nails and belt buckle

[[Page 65878]]

date one burial to the Historic Period (circa A.D. 1650-1750) when 
coffin burials were quickly adopted by some Native Americans living in 
the Upper Delaware Valley. The teshoa (not in the collection) found 
with another burial suggests that it dates to the Late Woodland or 
early Historic Period (A.D. 1000-1750). The shallow depth of the third 
burial suggests that it dates to the Late Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-
1650).
    In 1966, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from the Peters-Albrecht Lower Terrace site (36Pi21) in 
Pike County, PA, during legally authorized excavations by Fred Kinsey 
of Franklin and Marshall College. No known individuals were identified. 
The 295 associated funerary objects are 1 shell fragment; 3 pieces and 
1 bag of charcoal; 3 projectile point fragments; 2 biface fragments; 
262 flakes; 3 core fragments; 1 cobble or honing stone; 1 netsinker; 3 
pieces of fire-cracked rock; 9 untyped Late Woodland sherds; and 6 
Early Woodland sherds.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
Burial styles indicate that the remains were buried during the Late 
Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-1650). One burial intruded into Early 
Woodland and Archaic Period components; as a result Lackawaxen point 
fragments and Vinette I sherds were incorporated into the grave. Tribal 
representatives have indicated that the presence of artifacts from 
earlier periods is intentional, resulting from the act of burial, and 
have identified all objects in the soil matrix surrounding a burial as 
associated funerary objects.
    In 1967 and 1968, human remains representing a minimum of six 
individuals were removed from the Bell Browning site (28Sx19) in Sussex 
County, NJ, during legally authorized excavations by the New Jersey 
State Museum, under the direction of Patricia Marchiando. No known 
individuals were identified. The 269 associated funerary objects are 2 
bags and 6 fragments of non-human bone; 1 shell fragment; 34 fragments 
of bone beads; 20 turtle shell fragments; 1 knife fragment; 1 scraper; 
5 hammerstones and hammerstone fragments; 1 chopper; 2 worked stone 
fragments; 7 core fragments; 1 cobble fragment; 3 pebbles and pebble 
fragments; 1 quartz crystal; 171 Late Woodland sherds; 9 red glass 
beads; 1 white glass bead; 1 white clay pipe stem fragment; 1 brass 
pot; and 1 pan cover and frizzen.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
The brass pot, pan cover and frizzen, and glass beads date one burial 
to the Historic Period (circa A.D. 1650-1750). The presence of Owasco 
Platted sherds in one burial and the flexed positions of other burials 
indicate that they date to the Late Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-1650).
    In 1969, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals 
were removed from the Bell-Browning-Blair site (28Sx19) in Sussex 
County, NJ, during legally authorized excavations by the New Jersey 
State Museum, directed by Patricia Marchiando. No known individuals 
were identified. The three associated funerary objects are one Owasco 
Platted rimsherd and two untyped Late Woodland sherds.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
The flexed burial positions and diagnostic artifacts--Owasco Platted 
rimsherd, untyped Late Woodland sherds, and a Levanna point (not in the 
collection)--indicate that the human remains were buried during the 
Late Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-1650).
    Between 1970 and 1971, human remains representing a minimum of 
three individuals were removed from the Harry's Farm site (28Wa2) in 
Warren County, NJ, during legally authorized excavations by Seton Hall 
University, under the direction of Herbert Kraft. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
The flexed burial positions and shallow depth of burials indicate that 
the remains were buried during the Late Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-
1650).
    In 1974, one associated funerary object was removed from the 
Minisink site (28Sx48) in Sussex County, NJ, during legally authorized 
excavations by Herbert Kraft. The associated funerary object is part of 
a bark wrapping. It was discovered in an unexcavated portion of a 
burial that had been excavated in 1894 by an amateur archeologist, Dr. 
Dalrymple. According to Dalrymple's notes, the burial contained the 
remains of a child who was interred with a brass chain and glass beads. 
Historic documents record the use of bark mats to wrap remains before 
their interment. The fragment of the bark mat is considered an 
associated funerary object by statutory definition, i.e., it was made 
exclusively for funerary purposes. The chain and beads discovered in 
the burial by Dalrymple and the burial style date it to the Historic 
Period (circa A.D. 1650-1750).
    In 1974, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Michaels Number 4 site (36Mr40) in Monroe County, 
PA, during legally authorized excavations by Franklin and Marshall 
College under the direction of Fred Kinsey. No known individual was 
identified. The 33 associated funerary objects are 4 pieces of 
carbonized wood; 1 piece of carbonized hickory nutshell; 1 celt 
fragment; 1 metate fragment; 14 flakes; and 12 untyped Late Woodland 
sherds.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
The site report from the excavations identifies the burial as a Late 
Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-1650) feature. The grit tempering of the 
ceramics supports this interpretation.
    In 1975, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Medwin Knoll site (28Sx266) in Sussex County, NJ, 
during legally authorized excavations by the New Jersey State Museum, 
under the direction of Dr. Lorraine Williams. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Osteological assessment of the human remains and their 
archeological context confirm that these remains are Native American. 
Williams identified the feature in which the remains were recovered as 
part of the Minisink phase (A.D. 1350-1650) of the Late Woodland Period 
(A.D. 1000-1650).
    Archeological evidence indicates that the people living in the 
Upper Delaware Valley formed a distinct group with unique stone tool 
traditions, bone tool traditions, settlement patterns, subsistence 
patterns, and burial styles as early as A.D. 1000. Continuity in the 
artifact styles, settlement and subsistence patterns, and burial styles 
suggest that the same people remained in the Upper Delaware Valley 
throughout the Late Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-1650) and into the 
Historic Period (circa A.D. 1650-1750). Historic records from the 17th 
and 18th centuries refer to the inhabitants of the Upper Delaware 
Valley, including Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, as 
``Minisink.'' Linguistic information indicates that these people spoke 
the Munsee dialect of the Delaware language. During consultations, 
tribal representatives identified the Upper Delaware Valley as the 
traditional territory of the Lenape, or the Delaware-speaking people. 
As their traditional lands were sold, some Munsee people joined the 
Stockbridge Mohican in Massachusetts and New

[[Page 65879]]

York and remained with them when the community resettled in Wisconsin. 
Today their descendants are members of the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community. Other Munsee people joined communities comprised primarily 
of people from southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania who spoke the Unami 
dialect of the Delaware language. These combined Delaware communities 
migrated westward and eventually settled in Oklahoma. Today descendants 
of these communities are members of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma or 
the Delaware Tribe of the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma.
    Officials of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of 42 individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of Delaware Water Gap National 
Recreation Area also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(3)(A), the 5,566 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 Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area 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 Cherokee Nation, 
Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; and Stockbridge Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin.
    A cultural affiliation determination was made with the Delaware 
Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma prior to its change in status. This 
determination is reflected in this notice as affiliation with the 
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact John J. Donahue, superintendent, Delaware Water 
Gap National Recreation Area, River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324, telephone 
(570) 426-2418, before December 5, 2008. Repatriation of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Cherokee Nation, 
Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; and Stockbridge Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is responsible for 
notifying the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; and 
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: October 21, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-26350 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S