[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36952-36954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13597]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-21139; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Pennsylvania Museum 
of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology has completed an inventory of human remains, 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 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 
should submit a written request to the University of Pennsylvania 
Museum of Archaeology

[[Page 36953]]

and Anthropology. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at 
the address in this notice by July 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Julian Siggers, University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 
19104, telephone (215) 898-4050.

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 under 
the control of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA. The human remains were removed from an 
unknown site in Wayne County, MI and Cuyahoga County, OH.
    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. 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 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Pokagon 
Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; Wyandotte Nation; and 
the Michigan Anishinaabek Cultural Preservation and Repatriation 
Alliance (MACPRA), a non-federally recognized entity which represents 
the following federally recognized groups: Bay Mills Indian Community, 
Michigan; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; 
Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, 
Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of 
Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish 
Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the 
Pottawatomi, Michigan (previously listed as the Huron Potawatomi, 
Inc.); Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and the Sault Ste. 
Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1844, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed by Lt. Montgomery C. Meigs from an unknown mound site in 
Wayne County, MI. According to museum and archival documents, the human 
remains were discovered in the immediate vicinity of Detroit and sent 
to Samuel G. Morton for inclusion in his collection of human crania 
from around the world prior to 1846. The human remains are represented 
by a cranium (no mandible) of a single adult female 35-45 years of age 
and a cranium (no mandible) of a probable male 30-40 years of age. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At an unknown date prior to 1839, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. George Mendenhall from an 
unknown site in Cuyahoga County, OH, and were sent to Samuel G. Morton 
for inclusion in his collection of human crania from around the world 
prior to 1846. According to museum and archival documents, the human 
remains were discovered near Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH. The human 
remains are represented by a cranium (no mandible) of a single female 
35-45 years of age. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date prior to 1839, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed by Dr. Sturum from an unknown 
location near Detroit, Wayne County, MI. After his death, the human 
remains came into possession of the executor of Sturum's estate and 
were sent to Samuel G. Morton for inclusion in his collection of human 
crania from around the world prior to 1846. The human remains are 
represented by a cranium and mandible of a male, 50+ years of age. 
Museum and archival documents identified this individual as a ``chief, 
who was slain in a broil with his son-in-law.'' No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Dr. Morton published his collection in several catalogues (1839, 
1840, and 1849). In 1853, Dr. Morton's collection, including all the 
human remains described above, were purchased from Dr. Morton's estate 
and formally presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences. In 1966, Dr. 
Morton's collection was loaned to the University of Pennsylvania Museum 
of Archaeology and Anthropology. In 1997, the collection was formally 
gifted to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology.
    Literature from the museum, collectors, and publications indicate 
that the four sets of human remains date to the Historic Period. The 
human remains have been identified as Native American based on specific 
cultural and geographic attribution in the museum records. Collector 
records, museum documentation and published sources identify the human 
remains above as Wyandot (Huron). Scholarly publications and land 
cession records indicate that the areas from which the human remains 
were removed are within the traditional aboriginal territory of the 
Wyandot (Huron) Indians and many known historic Wyandot (Huron) 
occupation sites within these areas have been identified.

Determinations Made by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology

    Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology 
and Anthropology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 Wyandotte Nation.

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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Dr. 
Julian Siggers, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, telephone 
(215) 898-4050, by July 8, 2016. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to the Wyandotte Nation may proceed.
    The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology is responsible for notifying the Bay Mills Indian 
Community, Michigan; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa 
Indians,

[[Page 36954]]

Michigan; Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian 
Community, Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 
Indians of Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; 
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Match-e-be-nash-
she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Nottawaseppi Huron 
Band of the Pottawatomi, Michigan (previously listed as the Huron 
Potawatomi, Inc.); Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and the 
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan, that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: May 23, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-13597 Filed 6-7-16; 8:45 am]
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