[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21802-21804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08809]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15172; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Texas A&M University, College 
Station, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Texas A&M University has completed an inventory of human 
remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains 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 human remains 
should submit a written request to Texas A&M University. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains 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 human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Texas A&M 
University at the address in this notice by May 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Suzanne L. Eckert, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M 
University, College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone (979) 845-5242.

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 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. The human 
remains were removed from Bell County, TX.
    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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

[[Page 21803]]

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Texas A&M 
University (TAMU) professional staff in 1995. In 2010, representatives 
of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of 
Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and 
Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma were 
invited to consult with TAMU for the purpose of determining the place 
and manner of the repatriation. The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma 
contacted TAMU with an interest in having these remains repatriated; no 
representatives from the other tribes contacted TAMU in response to 
this invitation.

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from Brown Rockshelter (41BL128) in Bell 
County, TX. The collection history of these human remains is vague. 
However, it is suspected that they are part of a larger group of 
``salvaged burials'' from Bell County that were donated to TAMU. At the 
time of donation, these human remains were identified as being from 
Burial 4 (TAMU-NAGPRA 18). The human remains were determined 
to be 1 adult female, 1 adult male, and 1 subadult. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site 41BL282 in Bell County, TX, by the 
TAMU Anthropology Club. The human remains from this site were 
identified as being from Feature 2 (TAMU-NAGPRA 19). The human remains 
were determined to be one adult of indeterminate sex. Dart points found 
nearby date the human remains to the Early Ceramic (before 700 A.D.) 
period. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from looter's backdirt at site 41BL287 in Bell 
County, TX, by the TAMU Anthropology Club. The human remains from this 
site were identified as being from Feature 7 (TAMU-NAGPRA 20). The 
human remains were determined to be 1 adult of indeterminate sex and 1 
subadult. Dart points found nearby date the human remains to the Early 
Ceramic (before 700 A.D.) period. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site 41BL291 in Bell County, TX, by the 
TAMU Anthropology Club. The human remains from this site were 
identified as being from Feature 13 (TAMU-NAGPRA 21). The human remains 
were determined to be 1 adult of indeterminate sex. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, five 
individuals were removed from looter's backdirt at site 41BL293 in Bell 
County, TX, by the TAMU Anthropology Club. The human remains from this 
site were identified as being from Feature 11 (TAMU-NAGPRA 22). The 
human remains were determined to be 1 adult female, 1 adult male, 1 
adult of indeterminate sex, and 2 subadults. Dart points found nearby 
date the human remains to the Early Ceramic (before 700 A.D.) period. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, 10 
individuals were removed from an unknown site in Bell County, TX. The 
collection history of these human remains is vague. However, it is 
suspected that they are part of a larger group of ``salvaged burials'' 
from Bell County that were donated to Texas A&M University. At the time 
of donation to TAMU, these human remains were identified as ``material 
salvaged from looted sites in Bell County'' (TAMU-NAGPRA 23). The human 
remains were determined to be 1 adult female, 3 adult males, 1 adult of 
indeterminate sex, and 5 subadults. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from Camp Tahaya in Bell County, TX. The 
collection history of these human remains is vague. However, it is 
suspected that they are part of a larger group of ``salvaged burials'' 
from Bell County that were donated to TAMU. At the time of donation to 
TAMU, these human remains were identified as ``material supposedly 
salvaged from a site in Bell County and donated to TAMU collection'' 
(TAMU-NAGPRA 25). The human remains were determined to be one adult 
female and one adult male. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on the geographic location of all the sites in this notice, 
TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared identity between the 
human remains in this notice and the following historic groups: 
Ervipiame, Mayeye, Yojuane, Comanche, Kickapoo, Tonkawa, Tunica and 
Biloxi, Wichita, Caddo, Waco, Anadarko, and Kiowa. Archeological and 
linguistic evidence, historical records, and/or traditional beliefs 
indicate that there is a relationship of shared group identity between 
these historic groups and the present-day Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; 
Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi 
Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, 
Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by Texas A&M University

    Officials of Texas A&M University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 24 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche 
Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian 
Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & 
Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

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 human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Dr. 
Suzanne L. Eckert, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 
College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone (979) 845-5242, by May 19, 
2014. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to the Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa 
Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-
Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, 
Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

[[Page 21804]]

    Texas A&M University is responsible for notifying the Caddo Nation 
of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; 
Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes 
(Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: March 4, 2014.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-08809 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P