[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44460-44461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20298]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024037; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology, Andover, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology has completed an 
inventory of 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 associated 
funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian 
tribe or Native Hawaiian

[[Page 44461]]

organization not identified in this notice that wish to request 
transfer of control of these associated funerary objects should submit 
a written request to the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the 
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 associated funerary objects should 
submit a written request with information in support of the request to 
the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology at the address in this 
notice by October 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Ryan Wheeler, Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, 180 
Main Street, Andover MA 01810, telephone (978) 749-4490, 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. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of associated funerary 
objects under the control of the Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology, Andover MA. The associated funerary objects were removed 
from the Mansion Inn site, Wayland, MA.
    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 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 Robert 
S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, 
representing the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (previously listed as the 
Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, Inc.) and the Wampanoag Tribe 
of Gay Head (Aquinnah) as well as the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag 
Nation and the Nipmuc Nation (non-federally recognized Indian groups).

History and Description of the Remains

    In June 1959, 188 associated funerary objects were removed from the 
Mansion Inn site (19-MD-210) in Middlesex County, MA. At that time, 
human remains and funerary objects were removed from the site by a 
number of individuals when construction activity at the site of the old 
Mansion Inn revealed the presence of archeological features. The site 
was looted by local children, their parents, and friends, assisted by 
local collectors. Many kept what they had excavated, though some human 
remains and funerary objects were preserved in museum collections. 
Frederick Johnson, curator of the Robert S. Peabody Foundation for 
Archaeology (now the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology) undertook 
salvage excavations to recover some information about the site. Human 
remains and funerary objects removed by Johnson, Curtis Chapin, and 
others were ultimately preserved in the Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and the Massachusetts Archaeological Society/Robbins 
Museum. The 188 associated funerary objects are 3 adze fragments, 1 axe 
fragment, 61 bifaces and biface fragments, 25 flakes/debitage, 1 
hammerstone, 2 charred nut hulls and charcoal, 22 pebbles, and 73 stone 
fragments.
    Excavations, studies, and one radiocarbon assay on organic material 
date the site from approximately 2111 to 1697 B.C. This is consistent 
with the Watertown Phase and subsequent Coburn Group of the Late 
Archais Susquehanna Tradition. Multiple lines of evidence guided by 
tribal consultations, including geographic location, maps, oral 
tradition, linguistic, and archeological data, demonstrate a shared 
group identity between the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice and the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, 
representing the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (previously listed as 
the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, Inc.) and the Wampanoag 
Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) as well as the Assonet Band of the 
Wampanoag Nation and the Nipmuc Nation (non-federally recognized Indian 
groups).

Determinations Made by the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology

    Officials of the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 188 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 associated funerary objects and the Wampanoag Repatriation 
Confederation, representing the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe 
(previously listed as the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, 
Inc.) and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Additionally, a 
cultural relationship is determined to exist between the human remains 
and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation and Nipmuc Nation, which 
are non-federally recognized Indian groups.

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 associated funerary objects should 
submit a written request with information in support of the request to 
Ryan Wheeler, Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, 180 Main Street, 
Andover MA 01810, telephone (978) 749-4490, email [email protected], 
by October 23, 2017. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the associated funerary objects to 
the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the Mashpee 
Wampanoag Indian Tribe (previously listed as the Mashpee Wampanoag 
Indian Tribal Council, Inc.) and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head 
(Aquinnah), and, if joined to one or more of the culturally affiliated 
tribes, the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation and Nipmuc Nation, 
which are non-federally recognized Indian groups, may proceed.
    The Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology is responsible for 
notifying the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the 
Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (previously listed as the Mashpee 
Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, Inc.) and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay 
Head (Aquinnah) as well as the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation and 
the Nipmuc Nation (non-federally recognized Indian groups) that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: August 21, 2017
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-20298 Filed 9-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P