[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41590-41591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15245]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-21300]; [PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of Anthropology at 
Washington State University, Pullman, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University 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 Museum of Anthropology 
at Washington State University. 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 Museum of Anthropology at Washington 
State University at the address in this notice by July 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Mary Collins, Director Emeritus of the Museum of 
Anthropology at Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-49140, 
phone (509) 592-6929, 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.

[[Page 41591]]

3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects under the control of the Museum of Anthropology at 
Washington State University. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Chagvan Bay, AK.
    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 Museum 
of Anthropology at Washington State University in conjunction with the 
Native Village of Goodnews Bay, and the Platinum Traditional Village.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1962, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from the archeological site known in the Alaska system as 
site XHI-001, in Chagvan Bay, AK. The burial was found eroding out of 
the south spit area of the Bay and was collected by archeologists from 
Washington State University, led by Dr. Robert Ackerman, who was doing 
studies in the vicinity. The human remains have been in Dr. Ackerman's 
research lab since 1962. No published description or analysis of the 
human remains has been done. No known individuals were identified. The 
four associated funerary objects are 1 semi-lunar metal knife blade, 1 
metal knife blade, and 2 tabular stones.
    The human remains represent one female and two males, all of whom 
are adults. All were found in a single burial box. The associated 
funerary objects are of historic manufacture, dating the human remains 
to the historic period. Geographical, archeological, and historical 
information suggest that the area of Chagvan Bay is within the 
traditional subsistence territory of the communities of the Native 
Village of Goodnews Bay and the Platinum Traditional Village.

Determinations Made by the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University

    Officials of the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the four 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 Native 
Village of Goodnews Bay and Platinum Traditional Village.

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 Mary Collins, Director of the Museum of 
Anthropology at Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-49140, 
telephone (509) 592-6929, email [email protected], by July 27, 2016. 
After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Native Village of Goodnews Bay and Platinum Traditional 
Village may proceed.
    The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University is 
responsible for notifying the Native Village of Goodnews Bay and 
Platinum Traditional Village that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 13, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-15245 Filed 6-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P