[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79903-79904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30884]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Alaska State Office of History 
and Archaeology, Anchorage, AK, and Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological 
Repository, Kodiak, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 in the control of the 
Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology, Anchorage, AK, and in 
the possession of the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, 
Kodiak, AK. The human remains were removed from the Aleut Village North 
archeological site (49-AFG-00004), Afognak Island, AK.
    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 on behalf of 
the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology by Alutiiq Museum 
and Archaeological Repository professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Afognak Native Corporation; Native Village of 
Afognak; Koniag, Inc.; Litnik, Inc.; and Native Village of Port Lions.
    In June of 2008, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the beach near the Aleut Village North 
archeological site (49-AFG-00004), Afognak Island, AK, by Robert 
Lachowsky. Mr. Lachowsky turned in the human remains to the Alutiiq 
Museum and Archaeological Repository. The Alutiiq Museum contacted the 
Alaska State Troopers, who sent photographs to the State Office of 
History and Archaeology. A professional archeologist and forensic 
consultant determined the remains to be a prehistoric person of Eskimo 
ancestry. The Alaska State Troopers released the human remains to the 
Alutiiq Museum for disposition in July 2008. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The Aleut Village North archeological site is a prehistoric and 
historic settlement north of Afognak Village on the southeast coast of 
Afognak Island. The site has a well-preserved midden that dates to the 
Kachemak and Koniag Traditions, as well as historic deposits of 
material. The human remains were likely deposited on the beach from the 
actively eroding midden. Based on the examination by an Alaskan State 
forensic archeologist, the human remains are believed to be 
prehistoric. Archeological data indicate that the ancestors of the 
Kodiak Alutiiq people have inhabited the Kodiak region for over 7,500 
years, and that they are culturally and biologically related to the 
Yup'ik Eskimo people of southern Alaska. As such, the human remains are 
most closely related to the contemporary Kodiak Alutiiq people. 
Specifically, the human remains are from an area of the Kodiak 
archipelago traditionally used by members of the Afognak Native 
Corporation; Native Village of Afognak; Koniag, Inc.; Litnik, Inc.; and 
Native Village of Port Lions.
    Officials of the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology and 
Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository 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 Alaska State Office of History and 
Archaeology and the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository 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 Native American human remains and the Afognak Native 
Corporation; Native Village of Afognak; Koniag, Inc.; Litnik, Inc.; and 
Native Village of Port Lions.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Sven 
Haakanson, Jr.,

[[Page 79904]]

Executive Director, Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, 215 
Mission Rd., Suite 101, Kodiak, AK 99615, telephone (907) 486-7004, 
before January 29, 2009. Repatriation of the human remains to the 
Afognak Native Corporation; Native Village of Afognak; Koniag, Inc.; 
Litnik, Inc.; and Native Village of Port Lions may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository is responsible for 
notifying the Afognak Native Corporation; Native Village of Afognak; 
Koniag, Inc.; Litnik, Inc.; and Native Village of Port Lions that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: November 18, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-30884 Filed 12-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S