[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17440-17441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08185]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025312; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of 
Natural History, Norman, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (Museum) at 
the University of Oklahoma has completed an inventory of human remains, 
in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organization, 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 Museum. If no additional 
requesters 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: 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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the 
address in this notice by May 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Marc Levine, Assistant Curator of Archaeology, Sam Noble 
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 
Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone (405) 325-1994, 
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 Sam Noble Oklahoma 
Museum of Natural History. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Sequoyah, OK.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 Sam 
Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Cherokee Nation and United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1979, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Blackbird House Site (34Sq0119) in Sequoyah 
County, OK. The site was recorded by the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey 
and the collection was transferred to the Museum in 1981. The human 
remains consist of a single right clavicle of an

[[Page 17441]]

adult of indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    The Blackbird House Site is a historic Cherokee site located within 
lands reserved for the Cherokee. Historical documents, Cherokee oral 
history, and the presence of European goods support the determination 
that the area was occupied by the Cherokee during the nineteenth 
century.

Determinations Made by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Sam Noble Oklahoma 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 one individual 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 Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah 
Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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 Dr. Marc 
Levine, Assistant Curator of Archaeology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of 
Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, 
Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone (405) 325-1994, email [email protected] 
by May 21, 2018. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Cherokee 
Nation and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may 
proceed.
    The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is responsible for 
notifying the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma and 
the Cherokee Nation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 26, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien, Manager,
National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-08185 Filed 4-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P