[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 116 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36242-36243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14362]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13114; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: New York State 
Museum, Albany, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The New York State Museum, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request to the New York State Museum. If no 
additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural 
items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian 
organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the New York State Museum at the 
address in this notice by July 17, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Lisa Anderson, NAGPRA Coordinator, New York State Museum, 
3122 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230, telephone (518) 486-
2020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the New York State Museum that meet the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural items

    In the late 19th century, 76 cultural items were removed from the 
property

[[Page 36243]]

of the former Christian Science Church located in Lansingburg, 
Rensselaer County, NY, by Reverend O.C. Auringer of Troy, NY. Museum 
records indicate that the cultural items were found in association with 
human burials, but the human remains are not present in the 
collections. The unassociated funerary objects from this site are 65 
tubular and round glass beads, 4 discoidal shell beads, 1 tubular bone 
bead, 1 stone bead, 1 perforated brass child's thimble, 1 small 
crescent-shaped shell bead, 1 small lead bird figure, and 2 perforated 
triangular brass projectile points.
    In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 93 cultural items were 
removed from sites in Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties, NY, by 
Mr. Dwinel F. Thompson of Troy, NY. Museum records indicate that the 
cultural items were found in association with human burials, but the 
human remains are not present in the collections. From the former 
Laureate Grounds in Troy, Rensselaer County, NY, the 90 unassociated 
funerary objects are 6 perforated elk teeth, 2 iron objects (possibly 
awls), 3 copper spiral ornaments, 74 glass beads, 1 kaolin ``EB'' 
smoking pipe, 1 copper tinkling cone, 1 bone comb, and 2 perforated 
triangular brass projectile points. From Green Island in Albany County, 
NY, the 1 unassociated funerary object is 1 iron trade adze. From the 
vicinity of Schaghticok in Saratoga County, NY, the 2 unassociated 
funerary objects are 2 small discoidal shell beads.
    The Lansingburg and Troy sites are burial grounds that may have 
been associated with Unawat's Castle, a Mahican village recorded on a 
1632 map of Rensselaerswyck. The exact location of Unawat's Castle has 
not been established, but deed records indicate that the area where the 
sites are located was in the possession of the Mahican people until 
1678 when it was sold by the Mahican leader, Amenhamit, to Robert 
Sanders. Prior to that, Mahican Indians allowed Sanders to use the 
property for his cattle as early as 1668. The objects from the 
Lansingburg burial sites date to circa A.D. 1650-1670. The objects from 
the Troy burial sites date to the early 17th century and the middle 
17th century. Based on the archaeological and historical evidence, the 
unassociated funerary objects from the Lansingburg and Troy sites are 
likely to be culturally affiliated with the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.
    Green Island is an island in the Hudson River of eastern New York 
where archaeological evidence indicates recurrent Native American 
occupation over several thousand years. Museum records indicate the 
cultural item was washed out of an Indian grave at the upper end of the 
island in 1904. The cultural item dates to the 17th century. Early deed 
records indicates that Green Island was in the possession of the 
Mahican people until 1665, when it was sold by Mahican leaders, 
Amanhanit, Aepjen, and Wanapet, to Jeremias Van Rensselaer. Based on 
the archaeological and historical evidence, the unassociated funerary 
object from Green Island is likely to be culturally affiliated with the 
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.
    Museum records indicate two cultural items were found in an 
``Indian grave near Schuylerville,'' which is located on the west side 
of the upper Hudson River in Saratoga County, NY. No specific site 
information is available, but extensive evidence of Native American 
occupation has been documented in the area of Fish Creek near 
Schuylerville. The cultural items date to the 16th century. 
Archaeological evidence suggests the Schuylerville area was occupied by 
Mahican people in the centuries just prior to European contact. Based 
on the archaeological evidence, the unassociated funerary object from 
the vicinity of Schuylerville is likely to be culturally affiliated 
with the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.

Determinations Made by the New York State Museum

    Officials of the New York State Museum have determined that:

 Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 169 cultural items 
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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
 Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Lisa Anderson, NAGPRA Coordinator, New York 
State Museum, 3122 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230, 
telephone (518) 486-2020, by July 17, 2013. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Stockbridge Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin, may proceed.
    The New York State Museum is responsible for notifying the 
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 16, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-14362 Filed 6-14-13; 8:45 am]
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