[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42509-42510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17625]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-10632; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Montana, 
Missoula, MT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Montana has completed an inventory of Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects in consultation 
with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian 
Reservation, Montana, and has determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian 
Reservation, Montana. 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 Montana. 
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 Montana at the address below 
by August 20, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Sally Thompson, Department of Anthropology, University 
of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, telephone (406) 243-5525.

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 collections of the University of 
Montana, Missoula, MT. Human remains of three individuals and 
associated funerary objects were removed from locations along the west 
shore of Flathead Lake in Lake County, MT. Human remains of one 
individual were removed from within the city limits of Missoula, MT.
    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 
institution 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 the 
University of Montana professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the 
Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1950, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the west shore of Flathead Lake, north of the 
Flathead Reservation, in Lake County, MT. This pre-contact burial was 
disturbed by excavation equipment and then turned over to the 
University of Montana, Department of Anthropology. The remains were 
discovered in the University's collection in 2011. Of the two 
individuals present, one is the nearly complete skeleton of an older 
female, at least 50 years of age at death. The second individual, 
represented only by several vertebrae, was also elderly, but exact age 
and sex cannot be determined. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1950, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a primary, flexed burial in a rock outcropping on the 
west shore of Flathead Lake, in Lake County, MT, during real estate 
development. The site is within the boundaries of the Flathead 
Reservation but on private land near the town of Dayton, MT. Local 
amateur archaeologist, Thain White, contacted Carling Malouf of the 
University of Montana, Department of Anthropology, and the remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed to the University of Montana 
in Missoula. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
discovered in the University's collection in 2011. The mostly complete 
skeleton is of a male, aged 35 to 50 years at death. No known 
individual was identified. The eight associated funerary objects are 1 
large (6 cm) turtle-backed stone scraper, 1 chalcedony flake, 2 shell 
beads, 3 antler pieces, and 1 lot of faunal remains.
    In 1950, during excavations for a business establishment human 
remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed by a 
bulldozer from an historical Indian burial in the city of Missoula, MT. 
This burial site location is within the aboriginal territory of the 
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The nearly complete skeletal 
remains of a child, aged 7 to 8 years at death, and associated funerary 
objects were transferred by the County Coroner to the University of 
Montana,

[[Page 42510]]

Department of Anthropology, for analysis by Carling Malouf. In 2011, 
the human remains and associated funerary objects were discovered to be 
associated with documentation of an Indian burial. No known individual 
was identified. The six associated funerary objects are 1 commercially-
manufactured purse, 1 pink glass bead, 1 Kootenai style leather 
moccasin tongue insert, 1 rawhide pouch, and 2 rawhide fragments.

Determinations Made by the University of Montana

    Officials of the University of Montana have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 14 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 
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, 
Montana.

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 Dr. Sally Thompson, Department of Anthropology, 
University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, telephone (406) 243-5525 
before August 20, 2012. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai 
Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Montana, may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The University of Montana is responsible for notifying the 
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, 
Montana, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 18, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA.
[FR Doc. 2012-17625 Filed 7-18-12; 8:45 am]
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