[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29296-29297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11089]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20982; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Oregon Museum of 
Natural and Cultural History, Eugene, OR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural 
History has completed an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, 
and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 
human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian 
tribes. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe 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 University of Oregon Museum of Natural and 
Cultural History. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
lineal descendants or Indian tribes stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe 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 
University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the 
address in this notice by June 10, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Pamela Endzweig, Director of Collections, Museum of 
Natural and Cultural History, 1224 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 
97403-1224, telephone (541) 346-5120.

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 University of 
Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Eugene, OR. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from the Pistol 
River sites, 35CU61 and 35CU62, in Curry County, Oregon, at and near 
the aboriginal village site of Chetlessentun.
    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 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 University 
of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of Grand 
Ronde Community of Oregon; the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of 
Oregon (previously listed as the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz 
Reservation); Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw 
Indians, Oregon; the Coquille Indian Tribe (previously listed as the 
Coquille Tribe of Oregon); Elk Valley Rancheria, California; and the 
Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation (previously listed as the Smith River Rancheria, 
California).

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1961, human remains representing, at minimum, 15 individuals 
were removed from the Pistol River site, 35CU61, in Curry County, OR, a 
location of the aboriginal village site of Chetlessentun, during 
legally authorized excavations by archeologists from the University of 
Oregon. No known individuals were identified. The 21 associated 
funerary objects include three projectile points, four projectile point 
fragments, one drill fragment, one worked flake, one worked bone, one 
worked tine, one spoon bowl, 2 glass beads, one piece of glass, one 
piece of wood, and 5 chipped stone flakes.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Raymonds Dune site, 35CU62, about 0.4 
km north of Chetlessentun, in Curry County, OR, by a private 
individual. The human remains were donated to the Museum and 
accessioned in 1947. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1942, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed by the private individual referenced above from a location 
described in donor records as ``Pistol River Dune,'' and ``on the slope 
75' to 100' east of the central group of shell heaps.'' No further 
information is present. The location is assumed to be in the vicinity 
of the above two sites. The human remains were donated to the Museum 
and accessioned in 1947. No

[[Page 29297]]

known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on archeological context, the 17 individuals described above 
are determined to be Native American. Historical documents, 
ethnographic sources, and oral history indicate occupation of 
Chetlessentun (35CU61) by the Tututni people until 1856. Burial-
associated artifacts and radiocarbon dates from archeological 
associations support a late pre-contact and early post-contact age of 
the burials from 35CU61. Site 35CU62 was occupied about 3200 years ago, 
based on radiocarbon-dated house remains and associated projectile 
points styles.
    Based on provenience, the Native American human remains are 
reasonably believed to be affiliated with the Coquille Indian Tribe and 
the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Oregon.
    Determinations made by the University of Oregon Museum of Natural 
and Cultural History:
    Officials of the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and 
Cultural History have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 17 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 21 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 the Coquille Indian Tribe and the 
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Oregon.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe not 
identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. Pamela Endzweig, Director of Collections, 
University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 1224 
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1224, telephone (541) 346-5120, 
by June 10, 2016. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Coquille Indian Tribe and the Confederated 
Tribes of Siletz Indians, Oregon may proceed.
    The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History is 
responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde 
Community of Oregon; the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of 
Oregon (previously listed as the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz 
Reservation); Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw 
Indians, Oregon; the Coquille Indian Tribe (previously listed as the 
Coquille Tribe of Oregon); Elk Valley Rancheria, California; and the 
Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation (previously listed as the Smith River Rancheria, 
California) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 28, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-11089 Filed 5-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P