[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28257-28258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13039]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025563; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Arkansas Museum 
Collections, Fayetteville, AR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Arkansas Museum Collections 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 University 
of Arkansas Museum Collections. 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 
University of Arkansas Museum Collections at the address in this notice 
by July 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Mary Suter, University of Arkansas Museum Collections, 
Biomass Building 125, 2435 North Hatch Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72704, 
telephone (479) 575-3456, 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 under 
the control of the University of Arkansas Museum Collections, 
Fayetteville, AR. The human remains were removed from the Roden Site 
(34MC215), McCurtain County, OK.
    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 
University of Arkansas Museum Collections professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1976 and 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, 47 
individuals were removed from Roden Site (34MC215) in McCurtain, OK, by 
the Museum of the Red River, Gregory Perino, and Lester Roden. At a 
date prior to 1981, the human remains were sent to the University of 
Arkansas for bioarcheological analysis and subsequently, they were 
donated to University of Arkansas Museum Collections by Jerome Rose. 
The human remains consist of 13 adult males, 12 adult females, nine 
children, four infants, and nine adults of unknown sex (2004-4-(1-44), 
2004-4-10-1, 2 & 3, 2004-4-22-1, 2). No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The Roden site is located on an alluvial terrace of the Red River 
in southeastern Oklahoma. According to Perino, excavations and 
radiocarbon dates strongly correlate with a Caddo presence stretching 
from A.D. 1300 to 1650, which is described as the McCurtain Phase. This 
date can be split into two periods of intense use; the first being 
approximately A.D. 1300 and the second occurring between A.D.1510-1620. 
The human remains are associated with the second phase. Descendants of 
the Caddo are members of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, seven 
individuals were removed from the Bowman/Wallace site (3LR50), Little 
River County, AR, by unknown persons. The human remains were donated to 
the University of Arkansas Anthropology Department at an unknown date. 
In 2006, they were transferred to the University of Arkansas Museum 
Collections. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Georgia Lake site (3OU112), Ouachita 
County, AR, by unknown persons. The human remains were donated to the 
University of Arkansas Anthropology Department at an unknown date. In 
2006, they were transferred to the University of Arkansas Museum 
Collections. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Based on the geographic region, diagnostic artifacts reported at 
the sites, site organization, and methods of interment, the human 
remains removed from burials at the two sites described above date to 
the Fourche Maline period (A.D. 500-800) and/or Caddoan period

[[Page 28258]]

(A.D. 800-1600). Archeological evidence suggests a cultural continuity 
through these periods. Archeological and historical evidence indicate 
that Caddoan peoples occupied the Ouachita Mountains and southwestern 
Arkansas during both time periods. The present-day descendants of the 
Caddo are members of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by the University of Arkansas Museum Collections

    Officials of the University of Arkansas Museum Collections have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 55 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 Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

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 Mary 
Suter, University of Arkansas Museum Collections, Biomass Building 125, 
2435 North Hatch Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72704, telephone (479) 575-
3456, email [email protected]., by July 18, 2018. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma may proceed.
    The University of Arkansas Museum Collections is responsible for 
notifying the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 9, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-13039 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am]
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