[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 48597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22773]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: New York University College of 
Dentistry, New York, NY

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 in the possession of New 
York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY. The human remains 
were removed from an unknown location or locations.
    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 New York 
University College of Dentistry professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from an unknown location or locations. At an 
unknown date, Dr. Joseph Jones of Louisiana added the human remains to 
his collection. In 1906, the widow of Dr. Jones sold his collection to 
the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. In 1956, the human 
remains were transferred to Dr. Theodore Kazamiroff, New York 
University College of Dentistry. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    The original records of Dr. Jones identify the human remains as 
Comanche, but do not list a locality for them. Museum records also 
identify the human remains as ``Comanche.'' The attribution of a tribal 
affiliation of Comanche in the museum records suggests that the human 
remains may date to the historic period. Forensic data corroborate the 
tribal attribution and estimated age for the individuals. One cranium 
has cutmarks that appear to have been made near the time of death by a 
metal knife. The other cranium shows evidence of cradleboarding, which 
was practiced by the Comanche in the historic period. Both sets of 
remains exhibit weathering that would be expected for the rock or 
scaffold burial locations that were preferred by the Comanche during 
the historic period. During consultation, the tribal representative for 
the Comanche Nation supported the identification of the human remains 
as Comanche.
    Officials of New York University College of Dentistry 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 New York University College of 
Dentistry 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 Comanche 
Nation, Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. 
Louis Terracio, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th 
St., New York, NY 10010, telephone (212) 998-9917, before October 23, 
2009. Repatriation of the human remains to the Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The New York University College of Dentistry is responsible for 
notifying the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: September 2, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-22773 Filed 9-22-09; 8:45 am]
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