[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73664-73665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30625]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[2253-665]

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Washington State University, 
Museum of Anthropology, Pullman, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Washington State University, Museum of Anthropology (WSU) 
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 WSU. 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 WSU at the address below by December 29, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Mary Collins, Director, Washington State University, Museum 
of Anthropology, Pullman, WA 99164-4910, telephone (509) 335-4314.

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 of the Washington State 
University, Museum of Anthropology. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Franklin County, WA, and an unknown 
location along the Lower Snake River.
    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 and funerary objects was 
made by the WSU professional staff in consultation with representatives 
of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Nez 
Perce Tribe, Idaho; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, 
Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington 
(hereinafter referred to as ``The Tribes''); and the Wanapum Band, a 
non-Federally recognized Indian group (hereinafter referred to as ``The 
Indian Group'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At some date between 1950 and 1970, human remains representing, at 
minimum, three individuals were removed from an unknown site in 
Franklin or Benton County, WA. The human remains were found among other 
archeological materials from sites excavated during this time period 
along the Lower Snake River. The remains, however, do not match any of 
the descriptions of excavated remains from any of the known sites. It 
is believed that these remains were excavated from one of several known 
burial sites along the Lower Snake River as archeologists at WSU were 
working at such sites between 1950 and 1970. The labels associated with 
the remains include burial numbers but not site numbers. No known 
individuals were identified. The 18 associated funerary objects are 1 
projectile point, 3 lots of bag residue, 2 lots of plant remains, 3 
lots of wood fragments, 1 lot of metal fragments, 1 lot of leather 
fragments, 1 lot of glass fragments, 2 lots of flakes, 1 lot of ceramic 
fragments, 2 lots of fabric fragments, and 1 lot of paper bags.
    In 1958, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from Site 45FR1 (also known

[[Page 73665]]

as 45FR42 or Fishhook Island) in Franklin County, WA by members of the 
Columbia Archaeological Society (CAS). Notes made by the CAS describe 
the burials as being of a late pre-contact age because of the lack of 
items of Euro-American manufacture among the associated funerary items. 
Correspondence between the CAS and Richard Daugherty, who was a member 
of the Anthropology faculty at WSU in 1958, discuss the possible 
deposition of the human remains and artifacts from these excavations at 
WSU but there is no record of such a deposit. The remains were found 
among a large set of remains known as the former ``WSU Teaching 
Collection'' which was used between 1968 and 1995. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Washington State University, Museum of 
Anthropology

    Officials of WSU have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of six individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 18 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, The Tribes, and 
The Indian Group.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Mary Collins, Director, Washington State 
University, Museum of Anthropology, telephone (509) 335-4314, before 
December 29, 2011. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to The Tribes and The Indian Group may proceed after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Washington State University, Museum of Anthropology, is responsible 
for notifying The Tribes and The Indian Group that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: November 22, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-30625 Filed 11-28-11; 8:45 am]
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