[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4261-4262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01720]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024413; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


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

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology 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 Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology. 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 Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
at the address in this notice by March 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Ryan Wheeler, Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology, 
Phillips Academy, 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 human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Robert S. Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology, Andover, MA. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from the Swanton site (VT-FR-1) in 
Franklin County, VT.
    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 Robert 
S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs (previously 
listed as the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of 
Maliseet Indians; Passamaquoddy Tribe; Penobscot Nation (previously 
listed as the Penobscot Tribe of Maine); and the following non-
federally recognized Indian groups: Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, St. 
Francis/Sokoki Band; Elnu Tribe of the Abenaki; Koasek Traditional Band 
of the Koas Abenaki Nation; and Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe.

History and Description of the Remains

    In the 1860s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed by Elliot Frink, H.H. Dean, L.B. Truax, John W.

[[Page 4262]]

Brough, J.B. Perry, and others from the Swanton site (VT-FR-1) located 
at Highgate, near Swanton, Franklin County, VT. The site also is known 
as Hemp Yard, Frink cemetery, and Frink's grounds. In 1917, the human 
remains and associated funerary objects were given to the Phillips 
Academy Department of Archaeology (now the Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology) by John W. Brough. Information about the site can be found 
in Warren K. Moorehead's 1922 book ``A Report on the Archaeology of 
Maine'' (see pages 241-257, which deal with Moorehead's Lake Champlain 
survey). Archeologist Stephen Loring, in his 1985 article ``Boundary 
Maintenance, Mortuary Ceremonialism and Resource Control in the Early 
Woodland: Three Cemetery Sites in Vermont,'' indicates that the Swanton 
site was first mentioned in 1868 by the Reverend J.B. Perry, following 
its exposure by logging, mining, and erosion activities in the early 
1860s. Loring describes the Swanton site as part of an Early Woodland-
era mortuary complex that included exotic funerary objects, large 
bifacial stone blades, and the use of red ochre. The mortuary complex 
is approximately 2,000 to 3,000 years old. Examination of the human 
remains by physical anthropologist Michael J. Gibbons in 1993 
identified a subadult male, aged 17 to 20 years old at time of death, 
represented by fragmentary clavicle and mandible, both of which are 
copper stained (object ID numbers 58495 and 58496). No known individual 
was identified. The 66 associated funerary objects include 1 discoidal 
stone (16937), 1 large stemmed slate biface (58480), 1 quartz stemmed 
biface (58482), 1 waterworn stemmed slate biface (58483), 1 leaf-shaped 
chert biface (58485), 1 leaf-shaped chert biface (58486), 1 fragmentary 
quartz biface (58488), 1 large jasper biface (58489), 1 polishing stone 
of slate (58490), 1 rhyolite celt (58491), 1 groundstone celt (58492), 
3 large shell beads (58493), 2 small shell beads (58494), 1 phyllite 
gorget (58497), 1 decorated ceramic rim sherd (58498), 1 copper drill 
or perforator (58499), 1 fragmentary quartz biface (58501), 4 
fragmentary chipped stone tools (58503), 35 fragments of copper beads, 
some with preserved cordage (2017.2.1), 5 tubular beads, and 2 Common 
Atlantic Marginella (Prunum apicinum) beads (2017.2.2).
    During consultation representatives of the Wabanaki Tribes and 
Abenaki groups emphasized that they considered themselves collectively 
to be Wabanakis, with similar languages, shared cultural histories, and 
common origins that extend far back to the first human occupation of 
the far northeastern United States and parts of Canada. Abenaki scholar 
Frederick Wiseman, in his book ``Reclaiming the Ancestors: Decolonizing 
a Taken Prehistory of the Far Northeast,'' presents detailed 
information on the interrelatedness of the Wabanaki, their distinct 
regional adaptations, and modern political entities. 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 Aroostook Band of Micmacs (previously 
listed as the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of 
Maliseet Indians; Passamaquoddy Tribe; Penobscot Nation (previously 
listed as the Penobscot Tribe of Maine); and the following non-
federally recognized Indian groups: Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, St. 
Francis/Sokoki Band; Elnu Tribe of the Abenaki; Koasek Traditional Band 
of the Koas Abenaki Nation; and Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe.

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(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 1 individual of Native 
American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 66 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 
Aroostook Band of Micmacs (previously listed as the Aroostook Band of 
Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Passamaquoddy Tribe; 
and the Penobscot Nation (previously listed as the Penobscot Tribe of 
Maine).

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 Ryan Wheeler, Robert S. Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology, Phillips Academy, 180 Main Street, Andover, MA 01810, 
telephone (978) 749-4490, email [email protected], by March 1, 2018. 
After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects may proceed to the Aroostook Band of Micmacs (previously listed 
as the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of Maliseet 
Indians; Passamaquoddy Tribe; Penobscot Nation (previously listed as 
the Penobscot Tribe of Maine); and, if joined to one or more of the 
culturally affililated tribes, any of the following non-federally 
recognized Indian groups: Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, St. Francis/
Sokoki Band; Elnu Tribe of the Abenaki; Koasek Traditional Band of the 
Koas Abenaki Nation; and Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe.
    The Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology is responsible for 
notifying the Aroostook Band of Micmacs (previously listed as the 
Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; 
Passamaquoddy Tribe; Penobscot Nation (previously listed as the 
Penobscot Tribe of Maine); Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi (St. Francis/
Sokoki Band), Elnu Tribe of the Abenaki, Koasek Traditional Band of the 
Koas Abenaki Nation, and Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: October 5, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on January 25, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-01720 Filed 1-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P