[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 5199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01350]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-11962; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Arkansas State University Museum, 
Jonesboro, AR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Arkansas State University Museum has completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), 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 Arkansas State University 
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 Arkansas State University Museum at the 
address below by February 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Marti Allen, Director, Arkansas State University Museum, 
P.O. Box 490, State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, telephone (870) 
972-2074.

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 under the control of Arkansas State 
University Museum, Jonesboro, AR. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Marion County, AR.
    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 Arkansas 
State University Museum and Arkansas Archaeological Survey professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Quapaw Tribe of 
Indians and The Osage Nation.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1961 and 1962, human remains representing, at minimum, 12 
individuals were removed from a cave site on the Deep Valley Ranch, in 
Marion County, AR, by Dr. Eugene Wittlake of Arkansas State University. 
The remains were subsequently donated to the Arkansas State University 
Museum. No known individuals were identified. The 665 associated 
funerary objects are 3 Mississippian plain rim sherds; 19 Mississippian 
plain body sherds; 130 unworked animal bones; 4 charcoal fragments; 6 
wood fragments; 425 small shells; 9 mussel shell fragments; 1 celt; 8 
natural lithics; 1 chert core; 2 worked stones; 10 partial projectile 
points; 7 projectile points; 3 partial biface lithics; and 37 chert 
debitage pieces.
    Excavation records indicate that 10 of the individuals were in 
single inhumations in quadrant 12, which measured 5 feet by 5 feet. All 
the objects found in this quadrant were determined to be associated 
funerary objects. Excavation records do not indicate the location of 
the burials belonging to the other two individuals. Historical 
evidence, material culture, and oral history indicate that this region 
is part of the traditional territory of The Osage Nation. The Osage 
were semi-nomadic people who lived and hunted in southwestern Missouri, 
northwestern Arkansas, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma. Marion 
County, AR, is located on land ceded by the Osage in an 1825 treaty.

Determinations Made by the Arkansas State University Museum

    Officials of the Arkansas State University Museum have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 12 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 665 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 the associated funerary objects and The 
Osage Nation.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. 
Marti Allen, Director, Arkansas State University Museum, P.O. Box 490, 
State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, telephone (870) 972-2074, before 
February 25, 2013. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to The Osage Nation may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Arkansas State University Museum is responsible for notifying 
the Quapaw Tribe of Indians and The Osage Nation that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: December 18, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-01350 Filed 1-23-13; 8:45 am]
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