[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43715-43716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18353]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[2253-665]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Colorado Museum,
Boulder, CO
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The University of Colorado Museum has completed an inventory
of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with
the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a
cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary
objects and present-day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human
remains and associated funerary objects may contact the University of
Colorado Museum.
[[Page 43716]]
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to
the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants
come forward.
DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a
cultural affiliation with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact the University of Colorado Museum at the address
below by August 22, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Steve Lekson, Curator of Anthropology, University of
Colorado Museum, in care of Jan Bernstein, NAGPRA Consultant, Bernstein
& Associates, 1041 Lafayette St., Denver, CO 80218, telephone (303)
894-0648.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Colorado Museum, Boulder, CO. The human remains and
associated funerary objects were removed from Bell County, KY, and
Summers County, WV.
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.
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by University
of Colorado Museum professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma;
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma;
Shawnee Tribe, Oklahoma; and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians
in Oklahoma.
History and Description of the Remains
On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of two
individuals were removed from a cave near Pineville, in Bell County,
KY, by Gervis W. Hoofnagle (1886-1959), an avocational archeologist. No
known individuals were identified. The associated funerary objects are
five non-human rib bones (four of which have been modified to come to a
point at one end).
Mr. Hoofnagle's widow, Alice G. Hoofnagle, sold his collection to
the University of Colorado Museum in March 1961. In February 2008, the
human remains and associated funerary objects were found in the museum.
Based on reasonable evidence provided during consultation, the human
remains are Native American. The same evidence supports cultural
affiliation to all three Federally-recognized Cherokee tribes--Cherokee
Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina;
and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Traditional
Cherokee burials are found in rock crevices and caves; traditional
Cherokee burials include non-human bones such as the sharpened rib
bones found with this burial. A portion of Bell County, KY, is within
the aboriginal territory of the Cherokee based on a final judgment of
the Indian Claims Commission. In addition, Bell County, KY, is within
the aboriginal territory of the Cherokee based on reasonable evidence
presented during consultation.
On an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from Burial 2, Farley site, on the New River,
near Hinton, in Summers County, WV, by Hoofnagle (1886-1959). No known
individual was identified. The associated funerary objects are two bear
teeth.
This individual was part of the Hoofnagle collection sold to the
University of Colorado Museum in March 1961. Based on tooth wear and
the associated funerary objects, the human remains are Native American.
During consultation, reasonable evidence was presented in support of
Summers County, WV, being within the aboriginal territory of the
Cherokee. Also during consultation, reasonable evidence was presented
in support of continuity in the utilization of animal parts, such as
bear teeth, in traditional Cherokee burials.
Determinations Made by the University of Colorado Museum
Officials of the University of Colorado Museum have determined
that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
above represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native
American ancestry.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the seven 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.
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 Cherokee
Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina;
and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Steve Lekson, Curator of Anthropology,
University of Colorado Museum, in care of Jan Bernstein, NAGPRA
Consultant, Bernstein & Associates, 1041 Lafayette St., Denver, CO
80218, telephone (303) 894-0648, before August 22, 2011. Repatriation
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Cherokee
Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina;
and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, may proceed
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The University of Colorado Museum is responsible for notifying the
Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation,
Oklahoma; Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
of North Carolina; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Shawnee Tribe,
Oklahoma; and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma,
that this notice has been published.
Dated: July 14, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-18353 Filed 7-20-11; 8:45 am]
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