[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 67998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27916]



[[Page 67998]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Michigan University, 
Anthropology Department, Kalamazoo, MI

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 Western Michigan University, Anthropology 
Department, Kalamazoo, MI. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Mackinac County, MI.
    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 Western 
Michigan University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, 
Michigan, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of 
Michigan.
    In 1973, human remains representing a minimum of eight individuals 
were removed from the Gyftakis site (20MK51), St. Ignace, Moran 
Township, Mackinac County, MI, during an archeological excavation 
directed by Dr. James Fitting. The human remains were transferred to 
Western Michigan University for curation and further analysis. The 20 
associated funerary objects are 8 black bear scapula and fragments, 1 
black bear atlas, 1 black bear proximal femur head, 1 large bird long 
bone shaft, 1 possible black bear phalanx, 1 possible crane 
carpometacarpus, 1 raptor carpometacarpus, 1 possible small bird long 
bone, 1 unidentified non-human cranium fragment, 2 bird or small mammal 
long bones and 2 probable bird phalanxes.
    In 1972, Middle Woodland period ceramic sherds were found during 
test excavations for the St. Ignace Archaeological Survey Project, 
which prompted the archeological survey. The burials were found to be 
in good condition. Dr. Robert Sundick, a physical anthropologist in the 
Anthropology Department at Western Michigan University, studied the 
remains. Native American ancestry was determined based on the temporal 
association of the Gyftakis Site to the Middle Woodland period (A.D. 
170), radiocarbon dating of a sample from an associated hearth and AMS 
date of ceramic pot residue. Additionally, seriation of the pottery and 
lithic tools discovered at the Gyftakis Site, but which are not 
associated funerary objects, are indicative of the Middle Woodland 
period and are clearly of pre-Contact/European manufacturing.
    According to oral tradition, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa 
Indians have occupied the St. Ignace area for numerous generations 
preceding European arrival into the Great Lakes. The archeological 
evidence of pre-historic Native American occupation of the Gyftakis 
site supports the Odawa oral histories. In 1615, the French were the 
first Europeans to record the Odawa in the Great Lakes. Since this 
first encounter in the early 17th century to the present-day, the Odawa 
have a long, documented history at St. Ignace and the surrounding 
Mackinac region.
    Officials of Western Michigan University have determined, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described above represent the 
physical remains of eight individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of Western Michigan University also have determined, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 20 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 Western Michigan University have determined, 
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 Little Traverse 
Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.
    Representatives of any other Indian Tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact LouAnn Wurst, Department of Anthropology, 
Western Michigan University, 1005 Moore Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, 
telephone (269) 387-2753, before December 6, 2010. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Little Traverse 
Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan, may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    Western Michigan University is responsible for notifying the Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan, and the Sault Ste. Marie 
Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: October 29, 2010.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-27916 Filed 11-3-10; 8:45 am]
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