[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 36 (Friday, February 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11606-11607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03634]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22774; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Arkansas State Highway and 
Transportation Department, Little Rock, AR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department 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 Arkansas State Highway 
and Transportation Department. 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 Arkansas State Highway and Transportation 
Department at the address in this notice by March 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Kristina Boykin, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation 
Department, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203, telephone (501) 569-
2079, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and

[[Page 11607]]

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 Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 
The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 
multiple counties in the state of Arkansas.
    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 Arkansas 
State Highway and Transportation Department professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of The Quapaw Tribe of Indians.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 2004, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were recovered from the Gilmore South site (3CT340) in Crittenden 
County, AR, during Phase III mitigation for the improvements to Highway 
63. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department contracted 
the excavations out to SPEARS, Inc., in West Fork, AR. The human 
remains were transferred to the Arkansas Archeological Survey (AAS) for 
curation in 2009. The human remains were identified as one adult (18-20 
years) and female. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. Diagnostic artifacts found at site 3CT340 
indicate these human remains were probably buried during the 
Transitional Late Woodland/Early Mississippian period (A.D. 700-1200).
    In 2004, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were recovered from the Gilmore North site (3CT341) in Crittenden 
County, AR, during Phase III mitigation for the improvements to Highway 
63. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department contracted 
the excavations out to SPEARS, Inc., in West Fork, AR. The human 
remains were transferred to the AAS for curation in 2009. The human 
remains were identified as two youths of unknown sex. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present. Diagnostic artifacts found at site 3CT341 indicate these human 
remains were probably buried during the Transitional Late Woodland/
Early Mississippian period (A.D. 700-1200).
    In 1968, 1969, and 1974, human remains representing, at minimum, 62 
individuals were recovered from the Hazel site (3PO6), Poinsett County, 
AR. The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department planned to 
reroute State Highway 308 which went directly through the Hazel site. 
The excavations were undertaken by the AAS, and the human remains and 
associated funerary objects have remained at the AAS's collections 
since the time of their removal. The human remains were identified as 
eight infants (less than two years old), 12 children (2 to 12 years), 
one youth (13 to 18 years), 34 adults (19 to 35 years), two old adults 
(over 35 years), and five undetermined. The human remains were further 
identified as eight female, 24 males, and 30 undetermined. No known 
individuals were identified. The 251 associated funerary objects are 59 
whole or partial ceramic vessels, 2 ceramic discs, 1 large body sherd, 
16 bone beads, 1 bone gorget, 3 bone awls, 1 deer humerus scraper, 1 
antler dagger, 1 raccoon jaw, 1 beaver tooth, 14 conch shell beads, 89 
disc-shaped shell beads, 40 pearl-slug shell beads, 7 barrel-shaped 
shell beads, 2 disc-shaped shell ear ornaments, 2 shell fragments, 1 
shell mask gorget, 1 shell spoon, 1 conch shell pendant, 1 willow-leaf 
knife, 1 biface, 1 ball of red ocher, 1 disc-shaped stone, 1 piece of 
coarse sandstone, 1 triangular piece of sandstone, 1 cymbal-shaped 
copper disc, and 1 piece of unidentified chalky material. Diagnostic 
artifacts found at the Hazel site (3PO6) indicate that the human 
remains were probably buried during the Parkin Phase (A.D. 1300-1600).
    In 1984, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
(84-712, 84-712-1, Burials 1 and 2) were recovered from the Ink Bayou 
site (3PU252) in Pulaski County, AR. The Ink Bayou site was excavated 
to mitigate the impacts of construction of a bridge over Ink Bayou. The 
Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department contracted the 
excavations out to the AAS, and the human remains have remained at the 
AAS's collections since the time of their removal. The human remains 
consisted of three adults of unknown age, one male and two 
undetermined. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. Diagnostic artifacts found at the Ink 
Bayou site (3PU252) indicate that these human remains were probably 
buried during the Plum Bayou Phase (A.D. 750-950).
    For the human remains listed in this notice, geographic affiliation 
is consistent with the historically documented territory of The Quapaw 
Tribe of Indians. Archeological evidence is consistent with the 
documented use of the area by The Quapaw Tribe of Indians.

Determinations Made by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation 
Department

    Officials of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation 
Department have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 68 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 251 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 Quapaw 
Tribe of Indians.

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 Kristina Boykin, Arkansas State Highway and 
Transportation Department, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203, 
telephone (501) 569-2079, email [email protected], by March 
27, 2017. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to The Quapaw Tribe of Indians may proceed.
    The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is 
responsible for notifying The Quapaw Tribe of Indians that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: January 24, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-03634 Filed 2-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P