[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50102-50103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20035]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13657; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Rochester Museum & Science 
Center, Rochester, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rochester Museum & Science Center has completed an 
inventory of associated funerary objects, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated 
funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian 
tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice 
that wish to request transfer of control of these associated funerary 
objects should submit a written request to the Rochester Museum & 
Science Center. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the associated funerary objects 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 
request transfer of control of these associated funerary objects should 
submit a written request with information in support of the request to 
the Rochester Museum & Science Center at the address in this notice by 
September 16, 2013.

ADDRESSES: George McIntosh, Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East 
Ave., Rochester, NY 14607, telephone (585) 271-4552 x 306, email 
[email protected].

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 associated funerary 
objects under the control of the Rochester Museum & Science Center, 
Rochester, NY. The associated funerary objects were removed from a 
small island off Prince of Wales Island, AK.
    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 associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the associated funerary objects was made 
by the Rochester Museum & Science Center professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Central Council of the Tlingit 
& Haida Indian Tribes and the Hydaburg Cooperative Association.

History and Description of the Objects

    Sometime prior to 1924, five associated funerary objects were 
removed from an unnamed small island off Prince of Wales Island, AK, 
according to Rochester Museum & Science Center catalogue records. The 
associated funerary objects that at one time housed human remains were 
collected by Esther Gibson, who worked as a missionary nurse in Alaska 
for 33 years. On May 29, 1924, the Rochester Museum & Science Center 
(then Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences) purchased the associated 
funerary objects from Gibson, who lived in Rochester, NY, at the time. 
No known individuals were identified. The five associated funerary 
objects are 1 wooden cremation box (24.57.3/AE 471), 1 sea lion hide 
(24.57.4/AE 472), 1 plaited cremation basket (24.57.5/AE 473), 1 rope 
(24.57.6/AE 474), and 1 plaited mat (24.57.7/AE 475).
    The Rochester Museum & Science Center's collections records 
indicate that the associated funerary objects were found under a cliff 
on a small island off Prince of Wales Island, AK. The records state 
that the cremation box contained the ashes of a Tlingit shaman or chief 
wrapped in the sea lion hide, but the human remains are not present. 
The mat was wrapped around the outside of the box to protect it and 
secured with the rope. The documentation also states that the cremation 
basket, found beside the cremation box, contained the ashes of a slave, 
that are not present. A medallion adorning the top of the cremation box 
appears to commemorate George III of England, circa A.D. 1760-1800. 
Through consultation, it has been established that it was not uncommon 
for the Tlingit to acquire foreign objects through trade and use them 
to decorate cultural objects. Tlingit consultants also identified the 
paintings on the box as an old style Tlingit design probably dating to 
the late 1700s. This documentary, physical, and cultural evidence 
strongly suggests that the associated funerary objects are culturally 
affiliated with the Tlingit. This affiliation is also supported by 
historical evidence, which shows that the Prince of Wales Island was 
traditionally a Tlingit territory. It was not until the late 18th 
century that the Tlingit began to leave the area and the Kaigani Haida 
inhabited their abandoned villages.

Determinations Made by the Rochester Museum & Science Center

    Officials of the Rochester Museum & Science Center have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the five objects 
described in this notice 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 associated funerary objects and the Central Council of the 
Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these associated funerary objects should 
submit a written request with information in support of the request to 
George McIntosh, Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., 
Rochester, NY 14607, telephone (585) 271-4552 x 306, email [email protected], by September 16, 2013. After that date, if no 
additional

[[Page 50103]]

requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the associated 
funerary objects to the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian 
Tribes may proceed.
    The Rochester Museum & Science Center is responsible for notifying 
the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes and the 
Hydaburg Cooperative Association that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 29, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-20035 Filed 8-15-13; 8:45 am]
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