[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 221 (Tuesday, November 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71841-71842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29354]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-19586; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology at 
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Anthropology at Indiana 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 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 Indiana University NAGPRA 
Office. 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 
Indiana University NAGPRA Office at the address in this notice by 
December 17, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Jayne-Leigh Thomas, NAGPRA Director, Indiana University, 
NAGPRA Office, Student Building 318, 701 E. Kirkwood Avenue, 
Bloomington, IN 47405, telephone (812) 856-5315, 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Department of 
Anthropology at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative

[[Page 71842]]

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 Indiana 
University professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, 12 
individuals from the Starved Rock site in La Salle County, IL, were 
donated to the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University. No 
known individuals were identified. There is one associated funerary 
object which is a bone bead. Notes indicate that these remains may have 
been excavated in the 1940s.
    Starved Rock is a prominent landmark located on the southern bank 
of the upper Illinois River, with human habitation dating back over 
8,000 years. This area is known to have been inhabited by tribes 
belonging to the Illinois Confederacy. Historical accounts report that 
Starved Rock was selected by La Salle as the site of Fort St. Louis 
during the late 17th century. It was then occupied by the Peoria people 
during the early 1700s. The human remains from this site have been 
determined to be likely Peoria, Kaskaskia, or from another tribe of the 
Illinois Confederacy; the modern day descendants are the Peoria Tribe 
of Indians of Oklahoma.
    In 1956, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual, were 
donated to the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University from 
the Cincinnati Society of Natural History. Notes indicate that these 
remains may have been part of the Chicago Historical Society 
collections prior to 1950. The human remains are labeled as being from 
a `Cascaskian' individual. No other information is present. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. The `Cascaskia' or `Kaskaskia' were one of the tribes which 
made up the Illinois Confederacy. The modern descendants are the Peoria 
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
    In 1974, human remains representing, at minimum, 17 individuals and 
211 associated funerary objects, were donated to the Department of 
Anthropology at Indiana University from a private citizen. No known 
individuals were identified. The associated funerary objects include 1 
flint chip, 86 glass beads, 103 shell beads, 1 corn cob fragment, 1 
raccoon mandible, 1 piece of worked stone, 9 metal fragments, 1 metal 
cross, 2 metal beads, 3 pieces of preserved fabric, and 3 pieces of 
wood. Notes indicate that this collection was excavated from Fort 
Chartres in Randolph County, Illinois. Individuals are listed as being 
affiliated with the Illiniwek tribe.
    When French explorers reached the upper Mississippi Valley during 
the 17th century, the area was heavily populated by the Illiniwek, also 
known as the Illinois Confederacy. In 1720, the French constructed a 
fort known as Fort de Chartres along the Mississippi River in IL. This 
fort was built near the Illiniwek villages and the French at Fort de 
Chartres began forming trade relationships with the Illinois tribes. As 
mentioned above, the modern descendants of the Illiniwek are the Peoria 
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by Indiana University

    Officials of the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University 
have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 30 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 212 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 the Peoria 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Dr. 
Jayne-Leigh Thomas, NAGPRA Director, Indiana University, NAGPRA Office, 
Student Building 318, 701 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, 
telephone (812) 856-5315, email [email protected], by December 17, 
2015. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains to the Peoria Tribe of 
Oklahoma may proceed.
    Indiana University is responsible for notifying the Peoria Tribe of 
Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 14, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-29354 Filed 11-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P