[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 175 (Monday, September 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45661-45662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19527]



[[Page 45661]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0026101; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Haffenreffer Museum of 
Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol, RI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, 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 Haffenreffer Museum of 
Anthropology, Brown University. 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 Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, 
Brown University at the address in this notice by October 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Thierry Gentis, NAGPRA Coordinator c/o. Haffenreffer Museum 
of Anthropology, Brown University, 300 Tower Street, Bristol, RI 02809, 
telephone (401) 863-5700, 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 Haffenreffer 
Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol, RI. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from: Prudence 
Island in Bristol County, RI; East Greenwich in Kent County, RI; Block 
Island in Newport County, RI; Rumford in Providence County, RI; and 
Charleston in Washington County, RI.
    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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by the professional staff of the Haffenreffer Museum 
of Anthropology, Brown University, in consultation with representatives 
of the Narragansett Indian Tribe.

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown time, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed by an unknown individual from Little Narrows 
Farm, Prudence Island in Bristol County, RI. The human remains, 
consisting of a cranium of a female of undetermined age, were donated 
by Stella Paine to the Haffenreffer Museum in 1957. They were said to 
have been removed from the ``slave burial ground'' cemetery for 
Little's Narrow Farm and ``neighbors.'' No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Osteological characteristics indicate that the individual is Native 
American. The interment most likely dates to the late Woodland period 
or later (A.D. 1000-1650). Oral tradition and historical documentation 
indicate that Little Narrows Farm, Prudence Island in Bristol County, 
RI, is located within the aboriginal and historic homeland of the 
Narragansett Indian Tribe. Oral history provided during consultation 
with the Narragansett Indian Tribe confirms that the individual is 
Narragansett.
    In 1964, human remains representing, at minimum, six individuals 
were removed from Green's Corner, East Greenwich in Kent County, RI, by 
William S. Simmons, and were donated to the Haffenreffer Museum by Mrs. 
Roderick Cruden. A letter from William S. Simmons to Mrs. Roderick 
Cruden dated September 13, 1964 states, ``The skeletons have been 
examined and one skull reconstructed. Four and perhaps even more 
Indians were uncovered in your foundation . . .'' The human remains 
include most of a male post-cranial skeleton (excluding ribs); 
miscellaneous post-cranial elements of an individual of indeterminate 
sex; miscellaneous post-cranial elements of a female; assorted post-
cranial bones of at least two individuals (cranial, mandibular 
fragments, and teeth), and cranial, mandibular fragments, and teeth of 
one individual. No known individuals were identified. The 18 associated 
funerary objects are one clay pipe stem, one chipped pebble of English 
flint, one cylindrical shell bead, eight metal fragments, one square 
copper plate with rivet holes, one cylindrical bead of blue glass, four 
cylindrical beads of deep red glass, and one unfinished purple shell 
bead.
    Osteological characteristics indicate that the six individuals are 
Native American. The interment most likely dates to the late Woodland 
period or later (A.D. 1000-1676). The associated funerary objects date 
the burial to the 17th century. Oral tradition and historical 
documentation indicate that Green's Corner, East Greenwich in Kent 
County, RI, is located within the aboriginal and historic homeland of 
the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Oral history provided during 
consultation with the Narragansett Indian Tribe confirms that the six 
individuals are Narragansett.
    In 1920, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Block Island in Newport County, RI. The nearly 
complete male skeleton was removed by Simon Ball. Charles F. Perry, MD 
donated these remains to Rudolf F. Haffenreffer in October of 1929, 
through an attorney named John T. Coughlin. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Osteological characteristics indicate that the individual is Native 
American. The interment most likely dates to the late Woodland period 
or later (A.D. 1000-1650). Oral tradition and historical documentation 
indicate that Block Island in Newport County, RI, is located within the 
aboriginal and historic homeland of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Oral 
history provided during consultation with the Narragansett Indian Tribe 
confirms that the individual is Narragansett.
    In 1927, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Rumford in Providence County, RI, by an unknown 
individual while digging a cesspool, and were donated to Rudolf F. 
Haffenreffer. The human remains consist of cranial and post-cranial the 
remains of an adult male. No known individuals were identified. The one 
associated funerary object is a flat bone object, possibly a whale rib, 
cut transversely and broken in two pieces.

[[Page 45662]]

    Osteological characteristics indicate that the individual is Native 
American. Based on the associated funerary object, the interment most 
likely dates to the late Woodland period or later (A.D. 1000-1650). 
Oral tradition and historical documentation indicate that Rumford in 
Providence County, RI, is located within the aboriginal and historic 
homeland of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Oral history provided during 
consultation with the Narragansett Indian Tribe confirms that the 
individual is Narragansett.
    In 1953, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Charleston in Washington County, RI, by an unknown 
individual, and were donated to Rudolf F. Haffenreffer. The human 
remains comprise a nearly complete female skeleton. No known 
individuals were identified. The five associated funerary objects are 
one quartz flake, one quahog shell and three copper sheet fragments.
    Osteological characteristics indicate that the individual is Native 
American. Based on the associated funerary objects, the interment most 
likely dates to the Historic Contact period (post -A.D. 1500). The 
three copper sheet fragments confirm a post-contact date. Oral 
tradition and historical documentation indicate that Charleston in 
Washington County, RI, is located within the aboriginal and historic 
homeland of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Oral history provided during 
consultation with the Narragansett Indian Tribe confirms that the 
individual is Narragansett.

Determinations Made by the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown 
University

    Officials of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown 
University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 24 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 
Narragansett Indian Tribe.

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 Thierry Gentis, NAGPRA Coordinator c/o. 
Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, 300 Tower 
Street, Bristol, RI 02809, telephone (401) 863-5700, email 
[email protected], by October 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 Narragansett 
Indian Tribe may proceed.
    The Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, is 
responsible for notifying the Narragansett Indian Tribe that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: July 25, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-19527 Filed 9-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P