[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21798-21799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08815]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-14950; 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 Morris County, Red River County, and Polk 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 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 Caddo. According to records on file at TAMU, 
the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma consulted with TAMU at that time and 
stated their intention to request the repatriation of the remains. In 
2010, representatives of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma were invited to 
consult with TAMU for the purpose of determining the place and manner 
of the repatriation, but no Caddo Nation of Oklahoma representatives 
contacted TAMU or visited the remains in response to this invitation.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1987, human remains and associated funerary objects were removed 
from the Murphy Branch site (41MX5) in Morris County, TX. At the time 
of excavation, the human remains and associated funerary objects from 
this site were identified as being from Burial 3 (TAMU-NAGPRA 
1). In 1997, the TAMU Anthropology Collections curator noted that the 
human remains were missing. These remains are still missing. The three 
associated funerary objects are one Nash Neck banded jar (Vessel E), 
one flowerpot shaped vessel with barkman-like design (Vessel F), and 
one large McKinney Plain sherd. Based on collection records describing 
the human remains, the objects are associated with the late pre-Contact 
Caddo.
    In the summer of 1991, human remains representing, at minimum, 24 
individuals were removed from the Arnold Roitsch site (41RR16R) in Red 
River County, TX, as part of the Texas Archaeological Society field 
school/Texas Historical Commission. The human remains were determined 
to be as follows: From Burial 20 (TAMU-NAGPRA 2), 1 adult of 
indeterminate sex; from Burial 19 (TAMU-NAGPRA 3), 1 adult 
male, 1 adult of indeterminate sex, and 1 subadult; from Burial 
21 (TAMU-NAGPRA 4), 1 subadult of indeterminate sex; from the 
Terrace Burial (TAMU-NAGPRA 5), 2 adults of indeterminate sex and 1 
subadult; from Burial 18 (TAMU-NAGPRA 6), 1 adult male; from 
Burial 17 (TAMU-NAGPRA 7), 1 adult female; from Burial 
16 (TAMU-NAGPRA 8), 1 adult female; from Burial 15 
(TAMU-NAGPRA 9), 1 adult male; from Burial 14 (TAMU-NAGPRA 
10), 1 subadult; from Burial 13 (TAMU-NAGPRA 11), 2 adult 
females, 1 adult male, and 1 subadult; from Burial 12 (TAMU-
NAGPRA 12), 1 adult female and 1 subadult; from Burial 11A and 
11B (TAMU-NAGPRA 13), 2 adult females and 1 subadult; from Burial 
10 (TAMU-NAGPRA 14), 1 adult of indeterminate sex; and from 
Burial 9 (TAMU-NAGPRA 15), 1 adult male. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on 
the presence of trade beads, diagnostic ceramic sherds, and pipes found 
elsewhere at the site, these human remains are attributed to the Caddo 
culture and are estimated to date from 1000 A.D. to 1740 A.D.
    In 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were 
removed from the Crawford site (41PK69) in Polk County, TX. At the time 
of excavation, the remains were identified as being from an unnumbered 
burial (TAMU-NAGPRA 16). The human remains were determined to belong to 
a single adult male. The remains were determined to be prehistoric 
Caddo based on type artifacts recovered elsewhere at the site. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.

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 Caddo 
Nation 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

[[Page 21799]]

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 Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma may proceed.
    Texas A&M University is responsible for notifying the Caddo Nation 
of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 3, 2014.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-08815 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
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