[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 77 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23513-23514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09262]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20686; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Kansas State 
Historical Society, Topeka, KS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Kansas State Historical Society, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request to the Kansas State Historical Society. 
If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the 
cultural items 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

[[Page 23514]]

Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Kansas State Historical 
Society at the address in this notice by May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Robert J. Hoard, State Archeologist, Kansas State 
Historical Society, 6425 SW. 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, 
telephone (785) 272-8681 ext. 269, 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the 
possession of the Kansas State Historical Society that meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations within this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    In 1964, artifact collectors excavated 18 cultural items and two 
human burials at the Doniphan site, 14DP2, in Doniphan County, KS. The 
human remains were reburied at the site after osteological analysis by 
the Kansas State Historical Society, but the 18 associated funerary 
objects, consisting of 5 projectile points, 11 white glass beads, and 2 
small metal rings were given to the Kansas State Historical Society. 
These are identified by the designation UBS 1991-105.
    The Doniphan site has long been known to be a Kaw village, though 
earlier components also are present. It was visited by French Military 
office [Eacute]tienne Veniard de Bourgmont in 1724 on his way to visit 
western tribes. This village also may be the one that appears on the 
1718 map by Delisle and noted as ruins by Lewis and Clark in 1805.
    Between 1904 and 1935, human remains and 154 artifacts were removed 
from the Blue Earth site, 14PO24, Pottawatomie County, KS, by Kansas 
State University faculty member J.V. Cortelyou. In 1956, the human 
remains and artifacts were donated to the Kansas State Historical 
Society. The human remains were destroyed by the Kansas State 
Historical Society in 1957 and 1958, according to an accession book, 
but the funerary objects were retained. The 154 unassociated funerary 
objects are 1 disk shell bead, 3 small burned bone fragments, 1 
Dentalium bead, 140 shell disk beads, 2 shell pendants/ornaments, 1 
drilled stone object, 1 incised stone pipe, and 5 incised bone beads. 
These are identified by the designation UBS 1991-99.
    The Blue Earth Village is shown on a 1795 map by Antoine Soulard 
and is identified as a Kaw site. It was the principle Kaw village for 
approximately 30 years. It was partially excavated in 1937 by 
archaeologist Waldo Wedel and tested by archaeologist John Tomasic of 
the Kansas State Historical Society in 2012. Both excavations produced 
material consistent with a Kaw occupation. Zebulon Pike also traded 
with the Kaw at this location in 1806.

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(3)(B), the 172 cultural items 
described above 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Kaw Nation, 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 claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Dr. Robert J. Hoard, State Archeologist, 
Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW. 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-
1099, telephone (785) 272-8681 ext. 269, email [email protected], by May 
23, 2016. After that date, if no additional claimants have come 
forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects to 
the Kaw Nation, Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Kansas State Historical Society is responsible for notifying 
the Kaw Nation, Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 22, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-09262 Filed 4-20-16; 8:45 a.m.]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P