[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76303-76304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30903]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-19738; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Ohio History Connection, 
Columbus, OH

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Ohio History Connection 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 the Ohio History Connection. 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 the Ohio History Connection at the address in 
this notice by January 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Bradley Lepper, Ohio History Connection, 800 East 17th 
Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211, telephone (614) 298-2064, 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

[[Page 76304]]

funerary objects under the control of the Ohio History Connection, 
Columbus, OH. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Schoenbrunn, Tuscarawas County, OH and Gnadenhutten, 
Tuscarawas County, OH.
    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 the Ohio 
History Connection professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma and the 
Delaware Nation, Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In the 1920s, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from a burial site in Schoenbrunn, in 
Tuscarawas County, OH. In 1927, William C. Mills investigated the 
cemetery, during which it is believed the human remains of a child 
(A4213/2) and an adult (A4213/3) were encountered. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
adult individuals were removed from a burial site in Schoenbrunn, in 
Tuscarawas County, OH. The human remains are a collection of modified 
(drilled) human phalanges from a ``mound coffin'' (A4213/1). As the 
remains were modified, they were originally reported as objects. 
Initially, the human remains were mistakenly reported as having been 
removed from a different site (A4487); their provenance was correctly 
identified in 2013. No known individuals were identified. As 
Schoenbrunn was founded by the Moravian Church in 1772-1777, as a 
mission to the Delaware Indians, these human remains are affiliated to 
the Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    Either in the 1920s or the 1960s, human remains representing, at 
minimum, four individuals were probably removed from Gnadenhutten, in 
Tuscarawas County, OH. Although the human remains lack documentation, 
William C. Mills was in the area of Gnadenhutten during his excavations 
at Schoenbrunn, and these human remains were found mixed with the 
Schoenbrunn human remains. It is probable that the material comes from 
this time period. Alternatively, the human remains could have been 
excavated in the 1960's prior to the property being given to the 
Village of Gnadenhutten. The remains represent three adults (A4578/1, 3 
and 5) and one child (A4578/1.01). No known individuals were 
identified. The 13 associated funerary objects are one small mammal 
mandible fragment (A4578/2, found with A4578/1), nine miscellaneous 
animal bone fragments (A4578/4 found with A4578/3) and three pottery 
sherds (A4578/6 found with A4578/5). As Gnadenhutten has strong 
historic ties to the Delaware Tribe, these human remains and associated 
funerary objects are affiliated with the Delaware Tribe of Indians, 
Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by the Ohio History Connection

    Officials of the Ohio History Connection have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of nine individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the thirteen 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 Delaware 
Tribe, 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 Bradley Lepper, Ohio History Connection, 800 
East 17th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211, telephone (614) 298-2064, email 
[email protected], by January 7, 2016. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Delaware Tribe of 
Indians, Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Ohio History Connection is responsible for notifying the 
Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma, and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma, 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 4, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-30903 Filed 12-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P