[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87059-87060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28947]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22419; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Natural 
History, Yale University, New Haven, CT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Peabody Museum of Natural History 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 Peabody 
Museum of Natural History. 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 
Peabody Museum of Natural History at the address in this notice by 
January 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Professor David Skelly, Director, Yale Peabody Museum of 
Natural History, P.O. Box 208118, New Haven, CT 06520-8118, telephone 
(203) 432-3752.

[[Page 87060]]


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 Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, 
New Haven, CT. The human remains were removed from the tundra surface 
near Barrow, North Slope Borough, 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. 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 Peabody 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional 
Government. Attempts to contact the Inupiat Community of the Arctic 
Slope went unanswered.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1957, human remains representing, at minimum, 14 individuals 
were removed from the tundra surface near Barrow in North Slope 
Borough, AK. The remains were collected and donated to the Peabody 
Museum of Natural History in 1957. The human remains represent four 
adult, probable male individuals, eight adult, probable female 
individuals, and two adult individuals of indeterminate sex. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The osteological data as well as the burial context support the 
identification of these individuals as Native Alaskan. The collector's 
description of the archaeological context supports an historic date for 
these burials. The city of Barrow and vicinity is documented as being 
inhabited by the Inupiat people during the historic era. The Inupiat 
people in this region are represented by the Native Village of Barrow 
Inupiat Traditional Government. During consultation, a representative 
of the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government 
confirmed the tribe's cultural affiliation to these human remains.

Determinations Made by the Peabody Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Peabody Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of fourteen 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 the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat 
Traditional Government.

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 Professor 
David Skelly, Director, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, P.O. 
Box 208118, New Haven, CT 06520-8118, telephone (203) 432-3752, by 
January 3, 2017. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Native Village 
of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government may proceed.
    The Peabody Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: November 15, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-28947 Filed 12-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P