[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 20 (Monday, February 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5860-5862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2147]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Oregon, Oregon 
State Museum of Anthropology, Eugene, OR

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 University of Oregon, Oregon State 
Museum of Anthropology, Eugene, OR. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Klamath County, OR and Siskiyou 
County, CA.
    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 Oregon State 
Museum of Anthropology professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Klamath Tribes, Oregon.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of four 
individuals were uncovered during

[[Page 5861]]

highway grading on the Merrill-Hatfield Road, near Merrill, Klamath 
County, OR. In 1936, officials of the Oregon State Highway Commission 
deposited the human remains at the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American based on 
archeological context and skeletal evidence. Based on provenience, as 
indicated in museum records, the human remains are reasonably believed 
to be culturally affiliated with the Klamath or Modoc.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing two individuals were 
removed from an unknown location in the vicinity of Klamath Falls, 
Klamath County, OR, by an unknown individual. In 1939, the human 
remains were donated to the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology by a 
private donor. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American based on 
skeletal evidence. The human remains are reasonably believed to be 
culturally affiliated with the Klamath or Modoc.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from the south end of Lower Klamath Lake, 
Siskiyou County, CA, by an unknown individual. In 1939, the human 
remains were donated to the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology by a 
private donor. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American based on 
archeological context. The human remains are reasonably believed to be 
culturally affiliated with the Klamath or Modoc.
    In 1940, human remains representing a minimum of seven individuals 
were removed from an archeological site at the Narrows of Lower Klamath 
Lake, Siskiyou County, CA, during excavations by University of Oregon 
staff. Accession records indicate that the human remains were removed 
from ``Burial Island.'' No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American based on 
archeological context. The human remains are reasonably believed to be 
culturally affiliated with the Klamath or Modoc.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
removed from an unknown cave location at Tule Lake, Siskiyou County, 
CA, by an unknown individual. In 1940, the human remains were donated 
to the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology by a private donor. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American based on 
archeological context. The human remains are reasonably believed to be 
culturally affiliated with the Klamath or Modoc.
    In 1948, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the surface of Klamath Marsh, Klamath County, OR, by 
an unknown individual. In 1948, the human remains were donated to the 
Oregon State Museum of Anthropology by a private donor. No known 
individual was identified. The approximately 395 associated funerary 
objects are 47 copper bead and fragments, 53 lithics, 1 metal spoon 
fragment, 3 metal bracelet fragments, 285 glass beads, 4 metal buttons, 
1 button fastener fragment, and 1 shell bead.
    The human remains were cremated, and are determined to be Native 
American based on archeological context. The associated funerary 
objects date the burial to protohistoric or historic times. The human 
remains are reasonably believed to be culturally affiliated with the 
Klamath.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
removed from the south side of the Sprague River, ``above [the] dam,'' 
Klamath County, OR, by an unknown individual. In or before 1950, the 
human remains were donated to the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology 
by a private donor. No known individual was identified. The 28 
associated funerary objects are 14 obsidian flakes, 12 copper tubing, 
and 2 unidentified longbone fragments.
    The human remains were removed from a cremation pit. The human 
remains are determined to be Native American based on archeological 
context. The associated funerary objects date the burial to the 
protohistoric or historic times. The human remains are reasonably 
believed to be culturally affiliated with the Klamath or Modoc.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of five 
individuals were removed from several locations near Algoma, Klamath 
County, OR, by Oregon State Highway Commission employees. In 1953, 
officials of the Oregon State Highway Commission deposited the human 
remains at the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    One cranium was found several hundred yards south of Algoma during 
highway construction. The other individuals were found near the 
Southern Pacific train depot in Algoma. Presence of cranial reshaping 
suggests a late prehistoric or historic age for at least one 
individual. The human remains are determined to be Native American 
based on archeological context. The human remains are reasonably 
believed to be culturally affiliated with the Klamath or Modoc.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from an unknown site on California-Oregon 
Power Company land at Agency Lake, Klamath County, OR, by an unknown 
individual. In or before 1957, the human remains were donated to the 
Oregon State Museum of Anthropology by private donors. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American based on 
archeological context. The human remains are reasonably believed to be 
culturally affiliated with the Klamath.
    Between 1932 and the 1950's, human remains representing a minimum 
of 13 individuals were removed from a high terrace above the Lost 
River, east of the Anderson Rose Diversion Dam, Klamath County, OR, by 
unknown individuals. In 1988, the human remains were donated to the 
Oregon State Museum of Anthropology by private donors. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on archeological context, the human remains are determined to 
be Native American. The site may be the historic Modoc village 
identified as ``Nakosh.'' The Modoc are members of the Klamath Tribes, 
Oregon and Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In 1961, human remains representing a minimum of 12 individuals 
were removed from the Klamath Shoal Midden site (35KL21), Klamath 
County, OR, during excavations by University of Oregon staff. No known 
individuals were identified. The 58 associated funerary objects are 2 
projectile points, 6 knives, 13 worked bones, 1 bone tool, 1 bone 
flesher, 4 non-human mammal bones, 5 scrapers, 19 used and worked 
flakes, 1 antler, 1 lot of gastropod shells, 1 chopper, 2 gravers, 1 
shell bead, and 1 core.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American based on 
archeological context and the character of the associated funerary 
objects. Two radiocarbon dates place occupation at the Klamath Shoal 
Midden site at approximately A.D. 700-A.D. 1000.

[[Page 5862]]

Based on provenience and radiocarbon dates, the human remains are 
reasonably believed to be culturally affiliated to the Klamath.
    In 1967, human remains representing a minimum of 93 individuals 
were removed from the Nightfire Island site (4SK4), west of Lower 
Klamath Lake, Siskiyou County, CA, by University of Oregon staff. No 
known individuals were identified. The 885 associated funerary objects 
are 755 shell beads, 2 quartz crystals, 35 agates and pebbles, 4 pipes, 
4 fragments of basketry or matting, 4 pieces of worked bone, 38 
projectile points and fragments thereof, 1 biface fragment, 29 worked 
and unworked flakes, 7 cores, 2 mortar fragments, 2 pestle fragments, 1 
whetstone, and 1 novaculite slab. Additional funerary objects were 
excavated, but were stolen before they could be accessioned into museum 
collections.
    The human remains are determined to be Native American based on 
archeological context and the character of the associated funerary 
objects. The associated funerary objects date the burials to within the 
2,500 years prior to Euro-American contact. The human remains are 
reasonably believed to be culturally affiliated to the Klamath or 
Modoc.
    In 1978, human remains representing one individual were removed 
from archeological site 35KL95, along Highway 140, east of the town of 
Beatty, Klamath County, OR, during excavations by University of Oregon 
staff. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Based on archeological context, the human remains are determined to 
be Native American. The human remains are reasonably believed to be 
culturally affiliated to the Klamath, Modoc, or Yahooskin.
    Historical documents, ethnographic sources, and oral history 
indicate that the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin have occupied south-
central Oregon and northeastern California since precontact times. 
Archeological context and/or skeletal evidence indicates that the above 
mentioned human remains are Native American, and of possible Klamath, 
Modoc, or Yahooskin cultural affiliation. Descendants of the Klamath, 
Modoc, and Yahooskin are members of the Klamath Tribes, Oregon and 
Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma. The Klamath Tribes, Oregon have taken the lead 
on repatriation of Native American human remains from the areas 
described above that are culturally affiliated with the Klamath, Modoc, 
and Yahooskin.
    Officials of the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of 143 individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Oregon State Museum of 
Anthropology have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(3)(A), the 1,366 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 Oregon State Museum of Anthropology 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 Klamath Tribes, 
Oregon and Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Dr. Pamela Endzweig, Director of Collections, 
Oregon State Museum of Anthropology, 1224 University of Oregon, Eugene, 
OR 97403-1224, telephone (541) 346-5120, before March 4, 2009. 
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to 
the Klamath Tribes, Oregon may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    Oregon State Museum is responsible for notifying Klamath Tribes, 
Oregon and Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 5, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-2147 Filed 1-30-09; 8:45 am]
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