[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19629-19631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07771]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20581; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Army 
Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, NE., and State 
Archaeological Research Center, Rapid City, SD

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District (Omaha 
District), 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 Omaha District. 
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 Omaha District at the address in this 
notice by May 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Sandra Barnum, U.S. Army Engineer District, Omaha, ATTN: 
CENWO-PM-AB, 1616 Capital Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102, telephone, (402) 
995-2674, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby 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 Omaha District. 
The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 
four sites in South Dakota--site 39SL45 (Ft. Sully II) in Sully County; 
site 39ST15 in Stanley County; site 39WW89, Walworth County; and an 
unidentified site in Potter County.
    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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by State Archaeological Research Center and Omaha 
District professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1971 or 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site 39SL45, Fort Sully II in Sully 
County, SD. They are presently located at the South Dakota State 
Archaeological Research Center (SARC) and are under the control of the 
Omaha District.
    A human cranium and mammal bones were discovered in a storage unit 
in Hughes County, SD, in September 2001, and turned over to the County 
Sheriff's office. The human remains were determined to be of 
archeological origin and transported to SARC. It was established that 
the human remains were removed by a private citizen while diving in the 
Missouri River near Old Fort Sully (39SL45) in 1971 or 1972. Fort Sully 
II was an active U.S. Army post between 1866 and 1894, and just south 
of the post were two multicomponent village sites, Fort Sully Village 
(36SL4) and the Glasshoff site (39SL42). It is possible the skull 
originated from one of the two village sites. Based on morphological 
characteristics consistent with a Plain Village population, the human 
remains are determined to be Native American. No known individual was 
identified. The 6 associated funerary objects are mammal bone 
fragments.
    Site 39SL4 was occupied during the Extended (A.D. 1500-1675) and 
Post Contact (A.D. 1675-1780) Coalescent

[[Page 19630]]

variants of the Plans Village tradition. Site 39SL42 was occupied 
during the Extended Middle Missouri variant (A.D. 1000-1500). 
Archeological, physical anthropological, geographical, and ethnographic 
evidence indicates that the Extended Coalescent and Post Contact 
Traditions are ancestral Arikara. Archeological, geographical, and 
physical anthropological evidence suggests that the Extended Middle 
Missouri variant is ancestral to the Mandan. Both the Arikara and 
Mandan are represented today by the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort 
Berthold Reservation.
    In 1984 and 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from site 39ST15, Indian Creek Village in 
Stanley County, SD. They are presently located at the SARC and are 
under the control of the Omaha District.
    During excavation, three isolated teeth, representing three 
individuals, were removed from the Indian Creek Village Site, 39ST15, 
but were not identified as human at that time. The collections from the 
site were at the Archeology Laboratory, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, 
until 1995, when they were transferred to SARC. In 1997, the teeth were 
identified as human. Associated records indicate that teeth were found 
in features within two separate houses at the site. Based on the 
archeological context, the human remains are determined to be Native 
American. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Three variants of the Plains Village Tradition are represented at 
the multicomponent earth lodge village site 39ST15--Extended Middle 
Missouri (A.D. 1000-1500), Extended (A.D. 1500-1675), and Post Contact 
Coalescent (A.D. 1675-1780). Individual 1 is mostly likely associated 
with the Extended Middle Missouri component, and Individuals 2 and 3 
are most likely associated with the Post Contact Coalescent component. 
Archeological, physical anthropological, historical, ethnographic, and 
geographical evidence support that Middle Missouri as being ancestral 
to the Mandan, and the Post Contact Coalescent as being ancestral to 
the Arikara. Both the Arikara and Mandan are represented today by the 
Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.
    In 1979 and 1982, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from site 39WW89 in Walworth County, SD. They 
are presently located at the SARC and are under the control of the 
Omaha District.
    The human remains were removed during two separate investigations. 
In 1979, the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, surveyed the east shore 
of Lake Oahe and removed human bone fragments representing two 
individuals, along with a single lithic flake from the surface. In 
1982, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, conducted test excavations at the 
site and removed the human remains of three individuals and two 
associated funerary objects; human remains from two of the individuals 
removed in 1982 were determined to be portions of the individuals 
removed in 1979. The collection was transferred to SARC in 1984, and 
the human remains were inventoried by the University of Tennessee, 
Knoxville, and then reburied in 1991, near Ft. Pierre, SD. In 1999, the 
human remains from the Augustana College investigation and all the 
associated funerary objects were located by SARC in their collections. 
Based on the archeological context and associated funerary objects, the 
human remains are determined to be Native American. No known 
individuals were identified. The 3 associated funerary objects are 1 
lithic tool and 2 lithic flakes.
    Based on radiometric dating, the site was used between A.D. 1400-
1560, a time period that includes two archeologically defined 
components, the Extended Middle Missouri (A.D. 1000-1500) and the 
Extended Coalescent (A.D. 1500-1675) variants of the Plan Village 
Tradition. Based on architecture, artifact types, geographical 
location, and physical anthropological data, the Extended Middle 
Missouri populations are ancestral Mandan and the Extended Coalescent 
are ancestral Arikara. Both the Mandan and the Arikara are represented 
today by the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.
    In 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were 
removed from an unidentified site in Potter County, SD. They are 
presently located at the SARC and are under the control of the Omaha 
District.
    In April 1999, a human skull was donated to the Nebraska State 
Historical Society, Lincoln. The skull was reported to be removed along 
the Missouri River near Gettysburg, SD. After transfer to SARC in 1999, 
and review of the documentation and topographic maps, the human remains 
were determined to have originated from Omaha District property. Based 
on morphological characteristics the skull is determined to be Native 
American. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The morphological characteristics of the cranium are indicative of 
Arikara ancestry. Additionally, the Arikara generally practiced primary 
inhumation and the crania exhibits evidence of such a burial method 
(soil adherence and root etchings, along with lack of weathering). 
Ethnographic and historic records indicate Arikara villages were 
located in Potts County during the Extended (A.D. 1500-1675) and Post 
Contact Coalescent (A.D. 1675-1780). Based on the archeological, 
physical anthropological, and geographic evidence, the skull is 
affiliated with the Arikara. The Arikara are represented today by the 
Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation.

Determinations Made by the Omaha District

    Officials of the Omaha District have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of eight individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the nine 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 Three 
Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.

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 Ms. Sandra Barnum, U.S. Army Engineer 
District, Omaha, ATTN: CENWO-PM-AB, 1616 Capital Avenue, Omaha, NE 
68102, telephone, (402) 995-2674, email [email protected], 
by May 5, 2016. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold 
Reservation, North Dakota, may proceed.
    The Omaha District is responsible for notifying the Three 
Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota, that 
this notice has been published.


[[Page 19631]]


    Dated: March 10, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-07771 Filed 4-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P