[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 77 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 23513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09261]



[[Page 23513]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20685; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, 
Topeka, KS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Kansas State Historical Society 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 Kansas State Historical Society. 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 Kansas State Historical Society at the 
address in this notice by May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Robert J. Hoard, Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 
SW. 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615, telephone (785) 272-8681 x269, 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 Kansas State 
Historical Society, Topeka, KS. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from somewhere near Port Williams, in 
Atchison County, KS.
    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 Kansas 
State Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo 
Reservation in Kansas.

History and Description of the Remains

    In late 1916 or early 1917, human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual were removed from an unnamed and unrecorded site 
somewhere near Port Williams in Atchison County, KS, by George 
Remsberg, a well-known amateur archeologist. Remsberg reported that he 
excavated a relatively recent Native American burial in Atchison 
County, KS, from the Bluma family farm near Walnut Creek, though he 
does not specify the location. This area was Kickapoo land from 1832 to 
1854. The association of a string of glass beads indicated a relatively 
recent burial. The human remains consist of a cranium and an associated 
mandible. The cranium was determined to be that of a 20-30 year old 
male of mixed ancestry. No known individuals were identified. The 168 
associated funerary objects are 1 lot of glass beads, 5 chert chips, 1 
mussel shell section, 1 stone, 63 non-human skeletal elements, and 97 
pottery sherds.
    Remsberg sent some materials he collected in Kansas to Wallingford 
Historical Society in Connecticut in 1917. That institution returned 
the materials to the Kansas State Historical Society on April 20, 1990.

Determinations Made by the Kansas State Historical Society

    Officials of the Kansas State Historical Society have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 1 individual of Native 
American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 168 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 Kickapoo 
Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas.

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 Dr. Robert J. Hoard, Kansas State Historical 
Society, 6425 SW. 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615, telephone (785) 272-
8681 x269, email [email protected], by May 23, 2016. After that date, if 
no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Kickapoo Tribe of 
Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas may proceed.
    The Kansas State Historical Society is responsible for notifying 
the Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 22, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-09261 Filed 4-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P