[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 59958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23820]



[[Page 59958]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13823; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The Michigan State University 
Museum, East Lansing, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Michigan State University Museum (MSUM) has completed an 
inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there 
is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present-
day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of 
any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains 
should submit a written request to the MSUM. If no additional 
requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to 
the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this 
notice may proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to request 
transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the MSUM at the 
address in this notice by October 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Jaclyn Lillis-Warwick, MSUM, 409 West Circle Drive, East 
Lansing, MI 48824, telephone (517) 432-4339, 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 human remains under 
the control of the MSUM. The human remains were removed from Jackson 
County, MI.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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. 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 MSUM 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Pokagon 
Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana.

History and Description of the Remains

    In September and October of 1978, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 10 individuals were removed from the Sanuskar Site (20JA150) 
in Pulaski Township, Jackson County, MI. Prior to the excavation, the 
private property owner had performed extensive earthmoving on his 
property, primarily cutting and grading to obtain fill materials. 
During subsequent cutwork, the property owner encountered bone, and 
removed a human cranium from the site. The Jackson Post of the Michigan 
State Police was contacted on September 20, 1978, and an investigative 
team visited the property. When human materials were identified as 
prehistoric, Dr. Saur at Michigan State University (MSU) was contacted. 
A team of MSU archeologists excavated the site and, upon completion of 
the project, the MSUM curated the human remains.
    Four individual burials were identified. Individual 1 was a 
virtually complete, flexed burial and was identified as a mid-adult 
female. Individual 2 was a virtually complete, except for arms and 
legs, extended burial and was identified as a late-adult female. 
Individual 3 was a fragmented burial identified as an adult male. 
Individual 4 was a fragmented burial identified as a young-adult male. 
The remaining human remains, representing at minimum six additional 
individuals, included a cranial piece, four ribs, five long bone 
fragments, four tarsal fragments, and numerous other unidentifiable 
bone fragments. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. The human remains date to the Late 
Prehistoric era based on the structure of the mortuary domain being 
consistent with burial practices.

Determinations Made by the Michigan State University Museum

    Officials of the MSUM have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American, based on age and burial practices.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and any present-day Indian tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains were removed is the aboriginal land of 
the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana and the 
Grand River Band of Odawa Indians (GRBOI), a non-Federally recognized 
Indian group.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed 
is the aboriginal land the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan 
and Indiana and the Grand River Band of Odawa Indians (GRBOI), a non-
Federally recognized Indian group.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, 
Michigan and Indiana.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these human remains should submit a written request with information 
in support of the request to Jaclyn Lillis-Warwick, MSUM, 409 West 
Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824, telephone (517) 432-4339, email 
[email protected], by October 30, 2013. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and 
Indiana, may proceed.
    The MSUM is responsible for notifying the Pokagon Band of 
Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 21, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-23820 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
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