[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53747-53748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21517]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16403; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Army, 
National Museum of Health and Medicine, Silver Spring, MD

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Museum of Health and Medicine 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 the National 
Museum of Health and Medicine. 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 the 
National Museum of Health and Medicine at the address in this notice by 
October 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr Franklin E. Damann, National Museum of Health and 
Medicine, 2460 Linden Lane, Building 2500, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 
telephone (301) 319-3306, 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 National Museum of Health and Medicine, Silver 
Spring, MD. The human remains were removed from Chernofski, Unalaska, 
AK.

[[Page 53748]]

    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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the National 
Museum of Health and Medicine professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

History and Description of the Remains

    On July 7, 1886, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were transferred from the U.S. National Museum (today the 
Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History) to the 
Army Medical Museum (today the National Museum of Health and Medicine). 
In 1880, affiliates of the U.S. National Museum removed human skeletal 
remains from Chernofski Harbor in Unalaska, AK. Original records of the 
collection are maintained by the Smithsonian Institution, and through 
coordination, we are able to determine that one cranium was removed by 
T.H. Bean and a second cranium was removed by W.H. Dall. No known 
individuals are identified in the historic records, and no associated 
funerary objects are present.
    The cranium collected by T.H. Bean was from a prehistoric Aleutian 
site at Chernofski, Unalaska, and was given Smithsonian Number 20825. 
Upon transfer to the Army Medical Museum in 1886, the cranium was 
accessioned under a second number, PS 9666. This human cranium is of a 
single adult, with extensive loss of bone and several perforations of 
the frontal and parietals.
    The cranium collected by W.H. Dall, also from a prehistoric 
Aleutian site at Chernofski, Unalaska, was given Smithsonian Number 
20842. Upon transfer to the Army Medical Museum in 1886, the cranium 
was accessioned under a second number, PS 9667. This human cranium is 
of a single adult female, with extensive hyperostosis and several 
perforations of the frontal and parietal bones.
    No information exists about the collection sites, other than both 
craniums were collected at Chernofski, Unalaska in 1880. The museum's 
consultation efforts identify one tribe that remains geographically 
affiliated with Unalaska: The Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

Determinations Made by the National Museum of Health and Medicine

    Officials of the National Museum of Health and Medicine have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two 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 Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.

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 
Franklin E. Damann, National Museum of Health and Medicine, 2460 Linden 
Lane, Building 2500, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone (301) 319-3306, 
email [email protected], by October 10, 2014. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska may 
proceed.
    The National Museum of Health and Medicine is responsible for 
notifying the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 1, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-21517 Filed 9-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P