[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39777-39779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17217]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025997; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The American Museum of Natural History 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 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 American Museum of Natural History. 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 American Museum of Natural History at the 
address in this notice by September 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, Central 
Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 769-5837, 
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.

[[Page 39778]]

3003, of the completion of inventories of human remains and associated 
funerary objects under the control of the American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Mercer County, NJ, and Richmond County, NY.
    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 American 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma, and the Delaware 
Tribe of Indians. The Delaware Nation, Oklahoma, and the Delaware Tribe 
of Indians invited the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin, to 
attend the consultation meeting, but they did not participate.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1897, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from the top soil of Trench D in Lalor Field, Lalor 
Estate, South of Trenton, Mercer County, NJ. The human remains were 
excavated by Ernest Volk during an American Museum of Natural History 
(AMNH) sponsored expedition. The AMNH acquired the individuals that 
same year. No known individuals were identified. The human remains 
include a sub-adult who is represented by a single element and two 
adults who are represented by cranial and post-cranial elements. The 
sex of these individuals cannot be determined. Two associated funerary 
objects--two pieces of pottery--were found with these human remains. 
One of these pottery pieces is a spall with no markings on its surface, 
and the other is small and fragmentary.
    The top soil of Trench D at Lalor Field consists of late Middle 
Woodland, Late Woodland, and early historic deposits. Thus, it is 
highly likely that these human remains can be assigned to the Terminal 
Middle Woodland or later. These human remains were determined to be 
Native American based on their archeological context and collection 
history.
    In 1909, human remains, representing at minimum, 16 individuals, 
were removed from the Bowman's Brook site, Mariner's Harbor, Staten 
Island, Richmond County, NY, by Alanson Skinner. The AMNH acquired 
these individuals as a gift that same year. No known individuals were 
identified. These individuals include three sub-adults, one adult male, 
10 adults of indeterminate sex and two individuals of indeterminate sex 
and age. There are no associated funerary objects.
    Bowman's Brook is a multi-component site, comprising part of the 
larger Mariner's Harbor site complex on the northwestern shore of 
Staten Island. Consisting of five distinguishable levels, its 
occupation spans the Middle and Late Archaic, Early and Middle 
Woodland, and the Late Woodland component for which the site is best 
known, the Bowman's Brook phase. Skinner's excavations were focused on 
the uppermost level. Radiocarbon dates obtained in 1986 indicate that 
the burials belong to the Late Woodland period; and date from A.D. 
1083153 to A.D. 134070. These human remains 
were determined to be Native American based on their archeological 
context and collection history.
    In 1895, human remains representing at minimum, 24 individuals and 
167 associated funerary objects were removed from Burial Ridge, 
Tottenville, Staten Island, Richmond County, NY. These individuals were 
collected by George H. Pepper and M.H. Saville as part of an AMNH 
sponsored expedition. The museum accessioned the human remains and 
funerary objects that same year. No known individuals were identified. 
The human remains include one adult female, six adult males, two adults 
who may be male, 10 adults of indeterminate sex and five sub-adults. 
The 167 associated funerary objects include: 14 bone points, three 
stone points; eight turtle shells; five sherds; 24 pieces of animal 
bone; two pieces of worked bone; one antler piece; one flint arrow; two 
pieces of mica; one flint implement; six flint blanks for arrowheads; 
13 leaf-shaped flint pieces; 11 flint pieces; three stone implements; 
one piece of smoky quartz; seven pieces of deer antler; five deer 
bones; one lynx mandible; one piece of red clay; 53 pieces of beaver 
teeth; one block of sand with shells; two valves of clam shells and two 
oyster shells.
    Around 1895, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals, were removed from a location presumed to be Burial Ridge, 
Tottenville, Staten Island, Richmond County, New York, NY. These human 
remains were probably collected by George H. Pepper and M.H. Saville as 
part of an AMNH sponsored expedition. The museum likely accessioned the 
human remains that same year. No known individuals were identified. The 
human remains include two adults of indeterminate sex. There are no 
associated funerary objects.
    In 1900, human remains, representing at minimum two individuals and 
one associated funerary object were removed from Burial Ridge, 
Tottenville, Staten Island, Richmond County, NY by Mark Raymond 
Harrington. The AMNH acquired the human remains and funerary objects as 
a gift from F.W. Putnam in 1909. No known individuals were identified. 
The human remains include one sub-adult and one adult of indeterminate 
age. The one associated funerary object is a piece of deer bone.
    The human remains from Burial Ridge, Tottenville, were determined 
to be Native American based on archeological context, associated 
funerary objects and collection history. While Burial Ridge at 
Tottenville, Staten Island has Archaic through early Contact Period 
components, contextual information and scholarly literature indicate 
that the human remains date to the Terminal Middle Woodland and Late 
Woodland Periods. Radiocarbon dates reinforce this interpretation: One 
individual dates to the Terminal Middle Woodland, three additional 
individuals and two nearby features date to the Late Woodland. The 
individuals and associated funerary objects described in this Notice 
date to the Terminal Middle Woodland or Late Middle Woodland periods.
    Oral tradition recounts the Delaware migration into the region from 
the west or northwest. Archeological and linguistic evidence indicates 
the arrival of Delawarean-speakers in the Delaware Valley and Staten 
Island no earlier than the Terminal Middle Woodland (A.D. 500-800). 
Information presented by the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma and the Delaware 
Tribe of Indians indicates that these three locales were traditionally 
occupied by the Delaware until progressive removals westward began in 
the early 1700s.
    Based on oral tradition, linguistic and archeological evidence and 
information presented during multiple consultations, the American 
Museum of Natural History has determined that a cultural affiliation 
exists between the human remains and associated funerary objects and 
the Delaware (Lenape) people.

Determinations Made by the American Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:

[[Page 39779]]

     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 47 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 170 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 Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.

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 Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural 
History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, 
telephone (212) 769-5837, email [email protected], by September 10, 
2018. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; 
and Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin, may proceed.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and 
Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: July 10, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-17217 Filed 8-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P