[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25705-25707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10069]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20810; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of 
Natural History, Norman, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the 
University of Oklahoma 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

[[Page 25706]]

there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. 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 Sam Noble 
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations 
stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the 
address in this notice by May 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Marc Levine, Assistant Curator of Archaeology, Sam Noble 
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 
Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone 405-325-1994, 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 Sam Noble Oklahoma 
Museum of Natural History. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from the following counties in the state of 
Oklahoma: Bryan, Carter, Coal, Garvin, Marshall, McClain, and Pontotoc.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 Sam 
Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, 
the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, The 
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and The Quapaw Tribe of Indians.

History and Description of the Remains

    On October 22, 1941, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from the Wheeler Site (34Br-47) in Bryan 
County, OK. The Wheeler Site was excavated by the Works Progress 
Administration, and the human remains were transferred to the Sam Noble 
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History on an unknown date. One individual 
was determined to be between the ages of 15 and 21 of indeterminate 
sex. The second individual is represented by two small postcranial 
fragments. Age and sex could not be identified. The date of the site 
associated with the human remains is unknown. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1934, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Reynolds Place Site (34Br-0/79) in Bryan County, 
OK. The human remains were discovered when the landowner, Mr. Sharpe, 
was plowing. The human remains represent an adult male of undetermined 
age. Mr. Sharpe donated the human remains to the Museum on January 21, 
1942. The date of the site associated with the human remains is 
unknown. No known individuals were identified. The 41 associated 
funerary objects are 41 shell beads.
    On October 16, 1987, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual, were removed from the Butler Site (34Ca-94/1) in Carter 
County, OK. The human remains are likely an adult male of at least 20 
years of age. The human remains were collected by the Oklahoma City 
Medical Examiner's Office and transferred to the Museum via the 
Oklahoma Archaeological Survey at an unknown date. The date of the site 
associated with the human remains is unknown. No known individuals were 
identified. The five associated funerary objects are 2 shell beads, 1 
fossil shell, and 2 animal bone fragments.
    On May 1, 1974, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Foreman Site (34Co-29/1) in Coal 
County, OK. The site was located near the west side of the highway 
between Clarita and Tupelo at the point where it crosses the Clear 
Boggy River. The site was first reported by a student to a professor at 
Southeastern State College in Durant, OK, on March 12, 1974. Officials 
from the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey were alerted to the presence of 
human remains at the site, which had been subject to disturbance by pot 
hunting and road construction. The fragmentary human remains are of 
indeterminate sex and age. Archeological assessment indicates that 
these human remains likely date to the Late Archaic or Woodland period. 
The human remains were transferred from the Oklahoma Archaeological 
Survey to the Museum at an unknown date. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from an unknown location (34Gv-0/20) in Garvin 
County, OK. The human remains were reportedly recovered in a gravel pit 
near a stream somewhere in Garvin County. The human remains represent 
one adult male, one probable adult female, and one adult of 
indeterminate sex. The human remains were donated to the Museum by an 
unnamed individual on July 26, 1951. The date of the site associated 
with the human remains is unknown. No known individuals were 
identified. The two associated funerary objects are a small shell and a 
fragment of faunal long bone.
    In 1942, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Coulter Site (34Ma-22) in Marshall County, OK. The 
human remains were recovered during Works Progress Administration 
excavations directed by Dr. Forrest Clements. This single individual, 
represented by one tooth (a right maxillary molar), was an adult of 
indeterminate sex. The tooth was transferred from the Oklahoma 
Archaeological Survey to the Museum at an unknown date. The date of the 
site associated with the human remains is unknown. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1942, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Quarrels Site (34Ma-24/14) in Marshall County, 
OK. The site was located on the bank of Little Glasses Creek, which is 
presently inundated by Lake Texoma. The human remains consisted of a 
single fragmentary phalanx of an adult of indeterminate sex. The human 
remains were transferred to the Museum at an unknown date. The date of 
the site associated with the human remains is unknown. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.

[[Page 25707]]

    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Frank Bounds Farm Site (34Ma-0/50) in 
Marshall County, OK. The human remains, representing an adult of 
indeterminate sex, were transferred to the Museum sometime before 1995. 
The date of the site associated with the human remains is unknown. No 
known individuals were identified. The 20 associated funerary objects 
consist of 15 pottery sherds and 5 stone tools.
    In 1957, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from site 34Ml-11 in McClain County, OK. The site was 
located near a small drainage running northeast into the South Canadian 
River. The human remains were discovered by a road survey conducted as 
part of a Federal Highway Administration Project. The human remains are 
highly fragmented with many elements embedded in dirt. The human 
remains represent a single adult male. The human remains were 
transferred to the Museum on an unknown date. The date of the site 
associated with the human remains is unknown. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a piece of 
groundstone.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Danna Smith Site (34Ml-7) in McClain 
County, OK. The human remains included one bone fragment, representing 
an adult of indeterminate sex. The bone was transferred to the Museum 
on an unknown date. The date of the site associated with the human 
remains is unknown. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location (34Pn0/5) in Pontotoc 
County, OK. The single bone fragment represented an adult of 
indeterminate sex and was transferred to the Museum on an unknown date. 
The date of the site associated with the human remains is unknown. This 
site is mislabeled as ``34Pn015.'' No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    On February 23, 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Townsend Site (34Pn-54) in Pontotoc 
County, OK. The human remains were collected by Dick McWilliams as part 
of a surface collection from the site, which is located along an old 
bank of West Buck Creek near Ada, OK. The human remains represent one 
adult individual, probably male. The human remains were transferred to 
the Museum on an unknown date. The date of the site associated with the 
remains is unknown. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on a combination of one or 
more of the following: Osteological evidence, collection history, 
association with Native American artifacts, and association with 
prehistoric archeological sites.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 15 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 69 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, the 
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, The Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma, and the Quapaw Tribe of Indians.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 
The Chickasaw Nation, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the Quapaw 
Tribe of Indians.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Jena Band 
of Choctaw Indians, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, The 
Chickasaw Nation, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the Quapaw Tribe 
of Indians.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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. Marc 
Levine, Assistant Curator of Archaeology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of 
Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, 
Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone 405-325-1994, email [email protected], by 
May 31, 2016. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, the Mississippi 
Band of Choctaw Indians, The Chickasaw Nation, The Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma, and the Quapaw Tribe of Indians may proceed.
    The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is responsible for 
notifying the Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Jena Band 
of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and Quapaw 
Tribe of Indians that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 7, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-10069 Filed 4-28-16; 8:45 am]
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