[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21799-21800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08811]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15074; 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 and 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 human 
remains and 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 human 
remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request 
to Texas A&M University. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and 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 human remains and associated 
funerary objects 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of Texas A&M University, 
College Station, TX. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed from Aransas, Brazoria, Harris, Nueces, and Matagorda 
Counties, 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 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 Texas A&M 
University (TAMU) professional staff in 1995, and the remains were 
determined to be ancestral to the historic Coahuiltecan culture. In 
2010, representatives of the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma were 
invited to consult with TAMU for the purpose of determining the place 
and manner of the repatriation, but no Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of 
Oklahoma representatives contacted TAMU or visited the remains in 
response to this invitation.

History and Description of the Remains

    In October 1980, human remains representing, at minimum, seven 
individuals were removed from the Palm Harbor site (41AS80) in Aransas 
County, TX, during a salvage project at a construction site. At the 
time of excavation, the co-mingled remains were not given a site burial 
designation. The human remains were determined to be two adult females, 
four adult males, and one subadult. The human remains were donated to 
TAMU in 1980 (TAMU-NAGPRA 17), and the archeologists at the time 
indicated that these individuals dated to the Late Archaic Period, 
possibly the Karankawa culture. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present. Based on geographic 
location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared identity 
from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture. Archeological and 
linguistic evidence, historical records, and traditional beliefs 
indicate that there is a relationship of shared group identity between 
the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the present-day Tonkawa Tribe of 
Indians of Oklahoma.
    Between October 1987 and February 1988, human remains representing, 
at minimum, two individuals were removed from the Alabonson Road site 
(41HR273) in Harris County, TX, as part of a CRM project jointly 
conducted by Texas A&M and Prewitt and Assoc., Inc. The human remains 
were determined to be as follows: From Burial 1 (TAMU-NAGPRA 
31), one adult female; and from Burial 2 (TAMU-NAGPRA 32), one 
adult female. No known individuals were identified. The three 
associated funerary objects associated with Burial 1 include 
one lot of fresh water mussel shells found in a circular pattern in 
chest area, one modified animal bone also found in chest region, and 
one human canine. No associated funerary objects were associated with 
Burial 2. Based on the associated funerary remains and the 
geographic location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared 
identity from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture. 
Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and 
traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared 
group identity between the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the 
present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
    Sometime prior to 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, 
nine individuals were removed from the Lunde Motte site (41MG35) in 
Matagorda County, TX, by a private individual, and were donated to TAMU 
in 1978. The human remains were determined to be nine adults of 
indeterminate sex (TAMU-NAGPRA 42). No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on the 
geographic location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared 
identity from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture. 
Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and 
traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared 
group identity between the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the 
present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
    Sometime prior to 1995, human remains representing, at minimum, 
four individuals were removed from the Bauman site (41NU66) in Nueces 
County, TX, by a private individual, and donated to TAMU. The human 
remains were determined to be as follows: One adult male; two adults of 
indeterminate

[[Page 21800]]

sex; one subadult (TAMU-NAGPRA 43). No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on the 
geographic location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared 
identity from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture. 
Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and 
traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared 
group identity between the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the 
present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
    In 1983, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the Darrington Point Prison Unit Site in Brazoria 
County, TX. The human remains were determined to be as follows: One 
adult male and one adult female (TAMU-NAGPRA 60). No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on 
the geographic location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a 
shared identity from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture. 
Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and 
traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared 
group identity between the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the 
present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
    Sometime prior to 1995, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the surface of the Laguna Madre Bauman 
site in Nueces County, TX, by a private individual, and donated to 
TAMU. The human remains were determined to be those of one adult male 
(TAMU-NAGPRA 61). No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. Based on the geographic location, TAMU 
staff found it reasonable to trace a shared identity from this site to 
the historic Coahuiltecan culture. Archeological and linguistic 
evidence, historical records, and traditional beliefs indicate that 
there is a relationship of shared group identity between the historic 
Coahuiltecan culture and the present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of 
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 25 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 3 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 human remains and associated funerary objects and the Tonkawa 
Tribe of Indians of 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 and associated 
funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects to the Tonkawa Tribe of 
Indians of Oklahoma may proceed.
    Texas A&M University is responsible for notifying the Tonkawa Tribe 
of Indians of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 19, 2014.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-08811 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P