[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 5108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2023]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Wyoming, 
Anthropology Department, Human Remains Repository, Laramie, WY

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 and control of the University of Wyoming, 
Anthropology Department, Human Remains Repository, Laramie, WY. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from the 
area of The Dalles in Oregon.
    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 University 
of Wyoming, Anthropology Department, Human Remains Repository 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and in 
conjunction with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation, Oregon, and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation, Washington.
    In the 1930s, human remains representing a minimum of 18 
individuals were removed from near The Dalles in Oregon, by two private 
citizens of the area after the burial locations had been disturbed by 
earth moving activities associated with highway construction. No known 
individuals have been identified. The 22 associated funerary objects 
are 1 lot of brass, iron wire and nail fragments; 2 rolled copper/brass 
tinklers or tube beads; 1 lot of small fragments of window glass; 1 
shell bead; 1 bird bone whistle; 3 fragments of worked animal bone; 5 
small pieces of wood; 5 pieces of unmodified animal bone; 1 lot of 
small fragments of lead sheeting; 1 distal phalanx of a large bird 
(probably an eagle); and 1 lot of small glass trade beads in a variety 
of colors.
    Verdigris staining on some of the human remains indicates contact 
with copper or brass. Some of the funerary objects are from the 
historic era and suggest a burial in the mid to late-1800s. It is not 
known if all the objects described above are associated funerary 
objects or were inadvertently incorporated into the collection during 
storage. However, the University of Wyoming, Anthropology Department, 
Human Remains Repository are treating all objects that were found 
stored with the Native American human remains as associated funerary 
objects.
    The University of Wyoming, Anthropology Department, Human Remains 
Repository determined that the human remains are Native American based 
on the presence of platymeric femoral morphology, toothwear patterns, 
the presence of shovel shaped incisors, interorbital observations and 
cranial deformation patterns, as well as the statements regarding 
recovery context made by one of the original collectors. Tribal 
evidence presented for cultural affiliation is based on review of 
records afforded to the tribes, historic documented locations of tribal 
groups and oral histories of their occupation of the general area, and 
review of the information from the Human Remains Repository. Based on 
this information, the cultural affiliation is to the Confederated 
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes 
of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; and Confederated Tribes and 
Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington.
    Officials of the University of Wyoming, Anthropology Department, 
Human Remains Repository have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001 (9-10), the human remains described above represent the physical 
remains of 18 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials also 
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 22 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 
a death rite or ceremony. Lastly, officials of the University of 
Wyoming, Anthropology Department, Human Remains Repository 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 Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, 
Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; 
and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Rick L. Weathermon, NAGPRA Contact at the 
University of Wyoming, Department 3431, Anthropology, 1000 E. 
University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, telephone (307) 766-5136, before 
March 3, 2010. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian 
Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon; and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama 
Nation, Washington may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The University of Wyoming, Anthropology Department, Human Remains 
Repository is responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes of the 
Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm 
Springs Reservation of Oregon; and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the 
Yakama Nation, Washington that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 16, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-2023 Filed 1-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S