[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40901-40904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16927]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-10538: 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Gregg County Historical Museum, 
Longview, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Gregg County Historical Museum has completed an inventory 
of human remains and associated funerary objects in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian tribe and has determined that there is a 
cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary 
objects and a present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human 
remains and associated funerary objects may contact the Gregg County 
Historical Museum. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Indian tribe 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 Gregg County Historical Museum at the 
address below by August 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Neina Kennedy, Executive Director, Gregg County Historical 
Museum, 214 N. Fredonia Street, Longview, TX 75601, telephone (903) 
753-5840.

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 Gregg County 
Historical Museum in Longview, TX. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from a total of 16 archeological sites, 
including 13 sites located in Gregg, Harrison, Red River, Rusk and 
Upshur counties in Texas and three sites of unknown county location 
within eastern Texas.
    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.

[[Page 40902]]

The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in 
this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by physical 
anthropology consultants (Angela Tine, Geo-Marine, Inc., and Nikki 
Dixon, The University of Texas at Arlington) in 2010 and 2011, working 
with the curator of the Buddy Jones collection at the Gregg County 
Historical Museum. A detailed assessment of the associated funerary 
objects was made by the professional staff of Archeological & 
Environmental Consultants, LLC, in conjunction with the curator of the 
Buddy Jones collection at the Gregg County Historical Museum. Both 
assessments were made in consultation with representatives of the Caddo 
Nation of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 2002, the Buddy Calvin Jones collection, a privately-held 
collection of Native American human remains and artifacts, was donated 
to the Gregg County Historical Museum, Longview, TX. Buddy Calvin Jones 
was an avocational archeologist who later became a professional 
archeologist, and excavated numerous sites in eastern Texas. The 
collection contains human remains and associated funerary objects 
removed from a total of 16 archeological sites, including 13 sites 
located in Gregg, Harrison, Red River, Rusk and Upshur counties in 
Texas and three sites of unknown location within eastern Texas.
    In 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals 
were removed from three burials at site 41GG50, in Gregg County, TX. 
The human remains from Burial 1 include one possibly male adult, one 
adult of unknown sex, and one juvenile of unknown sex. The human 
remains from Burial 6 include an occipital cranial bone fragment of one 
adult of unknown sex. The human remains from Burial 7 include one adult 
of unknown sex. No known individuals were identified. The 11 associated 
funerary objects are 5 ceramic vessels from Burial 1; 4 ceramic vessels 
form Burial 6; and 2 ceramic vessels form Burial 7. The burials date to 
A.D. 1200-1400, the Middle Caddo period.
    In the late 1950s, human remains representing, at minimum, six 
individuals were removed from five burials at site 41HS269 (C.D. 
Marsh), in Harrison County, TX. The human remains from Burial 1 include 
two human molars of one individual of unknown age and sex. The human 
remains from Burial 2 include one adult of unknown sex, and a human 
medial cuneiform and other bone fragments of one individual of unknown 
age and sex. The human remains from Burial 4 include a postcranial 
human bone from one adult of unknown sex. The human remains from Burial 
6 include one child of unknown sex. The human remains from Burial 7 
include one individual of unknown age and sex. No known individuals 
were identified. The eight associated funerary objects are four ceramic 
vessels from Burial 1; 1 lot of miscellaneous sherds from Burial 2; 1 
lot of miscellaneous sherds from Burial 4; 1 lot of miscellaneous 
sherds and lithic debris from Burial 6; and 1 ceramic vessel form 
Burial 7. The burials rang in date from A.D. 1200-1400, the Middle 
Caddo period, through the middle-to-late 18th century.
    Between December 1961 and January 1962, human remains representing, 
at minimum, two individuals were removed from one burial at site 41RR16 
(Sam Kaufman), in Red River County, TX. The human remains from Burial 2 
include one child of unknown sex and fragments of one adult, possibly 
middle aged and female. No known individuals were identified. The three 
associated funerary objects are ceramic vessels from Burial 2. The 
burial dates to A.D. 1500-1600, the Late Caddo period.
    In 1957, human remains representing, at minimum, 19 individuals 
were removed from 16 burials at site 41UR315 (Henry Spencer), in Upshur 
County, TX. The site was a large cemetery known to have more than 40 
burials. The human remains from Burial 1 include one adult of unknown 
sex. The human remains from Burial 5 include 16 long bone fragments of 
one individual of unknown age and sex. The human remains from Burial 8 
include bone and dental fragments of one adult of unknown age and sex. 
The human remains from Burial 9 (or 11) include teeth and cranial 
fragments of one individual. The human remains from Burial 10 include 
teeth and skull fragments of one adult of unknown sex. The human 
remains from Burial 13 include teeth and bone fragments of two children 
of unknown sex. The human remains from Burial 18 (or 28) were comingled 
and include bone fragments and teeth of one child. The human remains 
from Burial 21 include bone fragments of one child of unknown sex. The 
human remains from Burial 22 include teeth and bone fragments of one 
child of unknown sex and two adults of unknown sex. The human remains 
from Burial 27 include teeth and bone fragments of one adult of unknown 
sex. The human remains from Burial 31 include bone fragments of one 
adult of unknown age and sex. The human remains from Burial 36 include 
a long bone of one adult of unknown sex. The human remains from an 
unnumbered burial (Lot 102) include one tooth, miscellaneous cranial 
fragments and miscellaneous postcranial fragments from one adult of 
unknown sex. The human remains from an unnumbered burial (Lot 145) 
include teeth and seven bone fragments of one individual of unknown age 
and sex. The human remains from an unnumbered burial (UC 31/Lot 151) 
include two teeth of one individual of unknown age and sex. The human 
remains from an unnumbered burial (Lot 129) include one adult of 
unknown sex. No known individuals were identified. The 62 associated 
funerary objects are 5 ceramic vessels from Burial 1; 6 ceramic vessels 
from Burial 5; 6 ceramic vessels from Burial 8; 2 ceramic vessels from 
Burial 9; 3 ceramic vessels from Burial 10; 3 ceramic vessels from 
Burial 13; 9 ceramic vessels from Burial 18; 1 ceramic vessel from 
Burial 21; 6 ceramic vessels and 2 ceramic elbow pipes from Burial 22; 
6 ceramic vessels from Burial 27; 3 ceramic vessels from Burial 28; 2 
ceramic vessels from Burial 31; 5 ceramic vessels from Burial 36; 1 
ceramic vessel from an unnumbered burial (Lot 102); 1 lot of 
miscellaneous sherds from an unnumbered burial (UC 31/Lot 151); and 1 
ceramic vessel from an unnumbered burial (Lot 129). The burials likely 
date to A.D. 1450-1650, the Late Caddo period.
    In 1954-1955, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from three burials at site 41UR318 (Henry 
Williams), in Upshur County, TX. The site was a large cemetery known to 
have more than 36 burials. The human remains from Burial 17 include 
cranial bone fragments, a temporal bone, long bone fragments, burned 
bone fragments and a femur diaphysis of one individual of unknown age 
and sex. The human remains from an unnumbered burial (Lot 130) include 
bone and teeth of one adult of unknown sex. The human remains from an 
unnumbered burial (Lot 121) include bone fragments of one juvenile or 
adult of unknown sex. No known individuals were identified. The two 
associated funerary objects are a ceramic vessel from Burial 17 and 1 
lot of miscellaneous sherds from an unnumbered burial (Lot 121). The 
burials date to A.D. 1500-1600, the Late Caddo period.
    In 1958, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from three burials at site 41UR320 (Taft), in Upshur 
County, TX.

[[Page 40903]]

The site was a cemetery known to have six burials. The human remains 
from Burial 3 include molar crowns, incisor crowns and small bone 
fragments of one individual of unknown age and sex. The human remains 
from Burial 4 include bone and teeth fragments of one individual of 
unknown age and sex. The human remains from an unnumbered burial (Lot 
150) include teeth and bone fragments of one individual of unknown age 
and sex. No known individuals were identified. The 15 associated 
funerary objects are 11 ceramic vessels from Burial 3, 3 ceramic 
vessels from Burial 4, and 1 plain vessel from the unnumbered burial 
(Lot 150). The burials date from the period A.D. 1500-1600, the Late 
Caddo period.
    Sometime between the late 1950s and the mid-1960s, human remains 
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from one burial 
at site GC 82 (on Hawkins Creek), in Gregg County, TX. The exact 
location of the burial is not specified in notes or records of the 
collection. The site was a cemetery known to have five burials. The 
human remains from Burial 5 include teeth, phalanges and bone fragments 
of one individual of unknown age and sex. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a spool-necked bottle 
from Burial 5. The burial dates to A.D. 1500-1600, the Late Caddo 
period.
    In June 1955, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from one burial at site 41GG51 (Hawkins Creek), 
in Gregg County, TX. The human remains from an unnumbered burial 
include mandible fragment and teeth of one juvenile of unknown sex. No 
known individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object 
is one lot of miscellaneous sherds. The burial dates to A.D. 1200-1400, 
the Middle Caddo period.
    Sometime between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s, human remains 
representing at minimum, one individual were removed from one burial at 
site GC 10 (near Grace Creek), in Gregg County, TX. The exact location 
of the burial is not specified in notes or records of the collection. 
The human remains from the unnumbered burial include a human molar of 
one individual of unknown age and sex. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. The burial 
dates to A.D. 1500-1600, the Late Caddo period.
    In 1956, human remains representing at minimum, one individual were 
removed from one burial at an unknown site (Lot 169), in Rusk County, 
TX. The exact location of the burial is not specified in notes or 
records of the collection. The human remains from the unnumbered burial 
include a human tooth of one individual of unknown age and sex. No 
known individual was identified. The one associated funerary object is 
one lot of miscellaneous sherds. The burial dates to A.D. 1200-1400, 
the Middle Caddo period.
    In 1956, human remains representing at minimum, one individual were 
removed from one burial (Lot 170), in Rusk County, TX. The exact 
location of the burial is not specified in notes or records of the 
collection. The human remains from the unnumbered burial include 5 
molars, other tooth fragments, and 15 unspecified bone fragments of one 
individual of unknown age and sex. No known individual was identified. 
The one associated funerary object is one lot of miscellaneous sherds. 
The burial dates to A.D. 1200-1400, the Middle Caddo period.
    In 1959, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from one burial at site M-6 Plummer (in Little Cypress 
Creek basin), in Upshur County, TX. The exact location of the burial is 
not specified in notes or records of the collection. The human remains 
from the unnumbered burial include cranium fragments and teeth of one 
individual of unknown age and sex. No known individuals were 
identified. The six associated funerary objects are five ceramic bowls 
and one ceramic bottle. The burial dates to A.D. 1500-1600, the Late 
Caddo period.
    In 1954, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from one burial at site 41UR319 (Starr Mound), in Upshur 
County, TX. The human remains from an unnumbered burial include rib 
fragments, teeth, and unknown bone fragments of one individual of 
unknown age and sex. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present. The burial dates to A.D. 1500-
1600, the Late Caddo period.
    Sometime between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s, human remains 
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from one burial 
at site TAS-C (in the Sabine River basin), in eastern Texas. The exact 
location of the burial is not specified in notes or records of the 
collection. The human remains from the unnumbered burial include a 
tooth of one adult of unknown sex. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a ceramic vessel. The 
burial dates to A.D. 1500-1600, the Late Caddo period.
    At an unknown date between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s, human 
remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from one 
burial (Burial 36, Lot 134), in eastern Texas. The exact location of 
the burial is not specified in notes or records of the collection. The 
human remains from Burial 36, Lot 134 include teeth from one adolescent 
of unknown sex. No known individuals were identified. The three 
associated funerary objects are ceramic bowls. The burial dates to A.D. 
1430-1680, the Late Caddo period.
    Sometime between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s, human remains 
representing, at minimum, four individuals were removed from four 
unnumbered burials in eastern Texas. The exact location of the burials 
is not specified in notes or records of the collection. The human 
remains from an unnumbered burial (Lot 133) include bone of one 
subadult of unknown age and sex. No known individuals were identified. 
The one associated funerary object is an engraved bowl. The burial 
dates to A.D. 1430-1680, the Late Caddo period. The human remains from 
an unnumbered burial (Lot 116) include mandibular and molar fragments 
of one individual of unknown age and sex. No known individual was 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a brushed punctuated 
jar. The burial dates to A.D. 1430-1680, the Late Caddo period. The 
human remains from an unnumbered burial (Lot 160) include teeth and 
cranial fragments of one individual of unknown age and sex. No known 
individual was identified. The one associated funerary object is a 
brushed punctuated jar. The burial dates to A.D. 1500-1600, the Late 
Caddo period. The human remains from an unnumbered burial (Lot 167) 
include a human premolar, an unspecified rib fragment, and other 
unspecified bone fragments of one individual of unknown age and sex. No 
known individual was identified. The one associated funerary object is 
1 lot of miscellaneous sherds. The burial dates to A.D. 1200-1400, the 
Middle Caddo period.
    The human remains and associated funerary objects described above 
are affiliated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma based on geographical 
and archeological evidence. Eastern Texas is part of the traditional 
homelands of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, based on over 100 years of 
archeological findings, historical and ethnographic records and 
documents that date as early as 1540, and the cultural traditions of 
the Caddo peoples themselves. Many of the burial positions-in rows with 
the body of the individual laid on an east-west axis and the head 
facing west-are consistent with Caddo burials in this part of eastern 
Texas. The associated funerary objects also suggest Caddo origins, 
based on the characteristic forms, methods of

[[Page 40904]]

manufacture and decoration styles that are distinctly Eastern Texas 
Caddo.

Determinations Made by the Gregg County Historical Museum

    Officials of the Gregg County Historical Museum have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of 51 individuals of Native 
American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 119 funerary 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 Caddo 
Nation of Oklahoma.

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 Neina Kennedy, Executive Director, Gregg County 
Historical Museum, 214 N. Fredonia Street, Longview, TX 75601, 
telephone (903) 753-5840, before August 10, 2012. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Gregg County Historical Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Caddo Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 7, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-16927 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P