[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52522-52525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22592]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0026438; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


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

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the 
University of Oklahoma 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 
Sam Noble Oklahoma 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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural 
History at the address in this notice by November 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Marc Levine, Assistant Curator of Archeology, 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, Norman, OK. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Atoka, Delaware, Haskell, Hughes, 
Latimer, Muskogee, Payne, and Sequoyah Counties, 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 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 Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and 
the Wichita and

[[Page 52523]]

Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma, 
hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the McCasland-Watts/Box Car site (34Lt38) in Latimer 
County, OK, and donated to the Museum in 1981 and 1993. The human 
remains include the fragmentary skeleton of an adult female, 35-50 
years old. No known individuals were identified. The 685 associated 
funerary objects include 580 stone flakes, one stone biface fragment, 
one ground stone fragment, one piece of daub, and 102 faunal bone 
fragments. Diagnostic artifacts from site 34Lt38 suggest that these 
human remains were buried during the Woodland Period (300 B.C.-A.D. 
1000).
    In 1987, human remains representing, at minimum, seven individuals 
were removed from the Solomon's Mound site (34Lt78) in Latimer County, 
Oklahoma. The site was excavated by the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, 
and the material was transferred to the Museum in 1988. The human 
remains include bone fragments of a child 5-10 years old and the 
commingled remains of six adults, two of whom are female, one of whom 
is male, and three of whom are of indeterminate sex. Two of the adults 
are 35-50 years old, and the other four are at least 20 years old. No 
known individuals were identified. The 42 associated funerary objects 
include 30 faunal bone fragments, two ceramic sherds, and 10 shell 
fragments. Diagnostic artifacts from site 34Lt78 suggest that the human 
remains were buried during the Woodland Period (300 B.C.-A.D. 1000).
    In 1938, human remains representing, at minimum, 24 individuals 
were removed from the Hughes site (34Ms4) in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. 
The site was excavated by the Works Progress Administration, and the 
material was subsequently transferred to the Museum. The human remains 
include bone fragments and/or teeth of 17 adults, three of whom are 
male or probably male and 14 of whom are of indeterminate sex, and two 
children, one-to-three and four-to-six years in age. The human remains 
also include the fragmentary skeleton of an adult female; the 
commingled human remains of an adult and an adolescent of indeterminate 
sexes; and the commingled human remains of an adult male and a child. 
No known individuals were identified. The 662 associated funerary 
objects include three charcoal fragments, 141 faunal bone fragments, 
one stone knife, five stone scrapers, 20 stone flakes, 16 stone 
projectile points, four stone projectile points with double points, 
three ground stone abraders, three copper stained stone ear spools, one 
mano fragment, one discoidal chunkey stone, one t-shaped stone pipe 
fragment, one red stone pipe, one cone-shaped ground stone fragment, 
one quartzite fragment, two unmodified stones, two metal beads on a 
wire, one copper bead, one copper knife, two copper pins, one copper 
strip, 134 glass beads, two ceramic bottles, three ceramic vessels, one 
ceramic vessel fragment, two ceramic pipe fragments, 290 ceramic 
sherds, one burned clay fragment, one copper stained wood fragment, 
eight wooden bowl fragments, one charred corn cob, one copper covered 
shell bead, and seven textile fragments. Diagnostic artifacts from site 
34Ms4 suggest that the human remains were buried during the 
Mississippian Period (A.D. 900-1450) and the following period of 
initial Spanish contact.
    Between 1937 and 1939, human remains representing, at minimum, 
three individuals were removed from the Reed 2 site (34Dl2) in Delaware 
County, Oklahoma. This site was excavated by the Works Progress 
Administration on private land held by the Reed family, and the 
material was subsequently donated to the Museum. The human remains 
include the partial skeleton of a young adult female 20-35 years of 
age, and the fragmentary skeleton of an infant approximately one year 
in age. No known individuals were identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a small ceramic vessel. Diagnostic artifacts from 
site 34Dl2 suggest that the human remains were buried during the 
Mississippian Period (A.D. 900-1450).
    In 1937, human remains representing, at minimum, 34 individuals 
were removed from the Reed 4 site (34Dl4) in Delaware County, Oklahoma. 
This mound site was excavated by the Works Progress Administration, and 
the material was later transferred to the Museum. The human remains 
include bone fragments and/or teeth of 26 adults, six of whom are male 
and 20 of whom are of indeterminate sex; five adolescents; two 
children; and one infant. No known individuals were identified. The 32 
associated funerary objects include one chert knife, one corner notched 
stone projectile point fragment, one gray slate celt, one serpentine 
ground stone spud, one nodule of gypsum, one ceramic double-bowl, one 
ceramic blackware bowl, one decorated ceramic bottle, four ceramic 
vessels, nine copper stained barrel-shaped shell beads, seven copper 
plated spherical wooden bead fragments, one faunal bone fragment, one 
mica and ash sample, one copper pin, and one copper plate fragment with 
adhering textile fragments. Diagnostic artifacts from site 34Dl4 
suggest that the human remains were buried during the Mississippian 
Period (A.D. 900-1450).
    In 1977 or 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from the Soybean West site (34Sq95) in 
Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. The site was excavated by the Oklahoma 
Archeological Survey, and the material was accessioned by the Museum in 
1981. The human remains include bone fragments and a partial skull of 
two adults, one of whom is likely female, while the other is of 
indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. Diagnostic artifacts from site 34Sq95 
suggest that the human remains were buried during the Mississippian 
Period (A.D. 900-1450).
    In 1937, human remains representing, at minimum, 22 individuals 
were removed from the Huffaker 1 site (34Dl12) in Delaware County, 
Oklahoma. The site was excavated by the Works Progress Administration, 
and the material was transferred to the Museum in 1938. The human 
remains include bone fragments and/or teeth of a child six-to-10 years 
in age, two adolescents 15-20 years in age, one adolescent 14-17 years 
in age, three young adults 20-35 years in age and of indeterminate sex, 
three adults of indeterminate sex, one adult female, one probable male 
adult, two adult males, and one adult 35-50 years in age and of 
indeterminate sex. The human remains also include the fragmentary 
skeletons of one adult male and one probable female adult, four young 
adults 20-35 years in age, one of whom is a probable male, while the 
other three are of indeterminate sex, and the partial skeleton of an 
adolescent male 18-20 years in age. No known individuals were 
identified. The 43 associated funerary objects include two faunal bone 
fragments, three stone flakes, one stone knife, eight stone projectile 
points, two ground stone celts, two copper covered stone ear spools, 
one mano, four limestone fragments, one unmodified stone, one copper 
pin, two decorated ceramic bottles, three undecorated ceramic bottles, 
two ceramic sherds, one shell bead, nine clay fragments, and one copper 
stained sediment sample. Diagnostic artifacts from site 34Dl12 suggest 
that the human remains were buried during the Mississippian Period 
(A.D. 900-1450).

[[Page 52524]]

    In 1938, human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals 
were removed from the McConkey 4 site (34Dl18) in Delaware County, 
Oklahoma. The site was excavated by the Works Progress Administration 
on private land, and the material was transferred to the Museum in 
1938. The human remains include bone fragments of two young adult males 
20-35 years in age, bone fragments of an adult of indeterminate sex, 
the fragmentary skeleton of a probable male adult, and the fragmentary 
skeleton of an adult 35-50 years in age and of indeterminate sex. No 
known individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object 
is a sample of charcoal. Diagnostic artifacts from site 34Dl18 suggest 
that the human remains were buried during the Mississippian Period 
(A.D. 900-1450).
    In 1939, human remains representing, at minimum, nine individuals 
were removed from the Copeland 2 site (34Dl47) in Delaware County, 
Oklahoma. The site was excavated by the Works Projects Administration 
between 1939-1940, prior to the construction of a dam on the Grand 
River, and the material was transferred to the Museum in 1948. The 
human remains include the fragmentary skeletons of a child six-to-eight 
years in age, four adult females whose ages are 20-30 years, 25-30 
years, 20-35 years, and 30-40 years, and an adult 25-40 years in age 
and of indeterminate sex. The human remains also include the partial 
skeleton of an infant approximately nine months old, and bone fragments 
and/or teeth of a child three-to-five years in age and an infant 
approximately one year in age. No known individuals were identified. 
The 13 associated funerary objects include two faunal bone fragments, 
one insect larva fragment, two stone projectile points, four ceramic 
sherds, and four textile fragments. Diagnostic artifacts from site 
34Dl47 suggest that the human remains were buried during the 
Mississippian Period (A.D. 900-1450).
    In 1938-1939, human remains representing, at minimum, four 
individuals were removed from the Evans 2 site (34Dl29) in Delaware 
County, Oklahoma. The site was excavated by the Works Progress 
Administration between 1938-1939, and the material was transferred to 
the Museum in 1940. The human remains include the partial skeleton of 
an adult male 30-45 years in age, bone fragments of a child less than 
eight years in age, bone fragments of a child two-to-four years in age, 
and the fragmentary skeleton of an infant, one to one and a half years 
old. No known individuals were identified. The two associated funerary 
objects include a ground stone abrader and a ceramic bowl. Diagnostic 
artifacts from site 34Dl29 suggest that the human remains were buried 
during the Mississippian Period (A.D. 900-1450) and into the early 
contact period (A.D. 1450-1650).
    In 1958, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was 
removed from the Tyler 1 site (34Hs10) in Haskell County, Oklahoma. The 
site was excavated by the University of Oklahoma for the Short Mountain 
Reservoir Project, and the material was subsequently transferred to the 
Museum. The human remains consist of small cranial fragments of an 
individual of indeterminate age and sex. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Diagnostic 
artifacts from site 34Hs10 suggest that the human remains were buried 
during the Mississippian Period (A.D. 900-1450) and into the early 
contact period (A.D. 1450-1650).
    In 1986, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals 
were removed from the Melrose 1 site (34At549) in Atoka County, 
Oklahoma, after the site had been disturbed by looters. The Oklahoma 
Archeological Survey salvaged the human remains and associated funerary 
objects, and transferred them to the Museum in 1987. The human remains 
include the fragmentary skeleton of an adult male 30-45 years, the 
partial skeleton of a probable male young adult 25-35 years, and two 
fragmentary skeletons of adults of indeterminate sex. No known 
individuals were identified. The 86 associated funerary objects include 
52 stone flakes, three stone projectile points, two stone projectile 
point fragments, one stone biface fragment, one unmodified rock, three 
ceramic sherds, two clay fragments, 13 shell fragments, one faunal 
tooth, and eight faunal bone fragments. Diagnostic artifacts from site 
34At549 suggest that the human remains were buried during the Woodland 
or Plains Village Periods (300 B.C.-A.D. 1500).
    In 1957, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Sparks I site (34Lt3) in Latimer County, 
Oklahoma. The site was excavated during the Oklahoma Archeological 
Salvage Project, and the material was transferred to the Museum in 
1957. The human remains include small cranial fragments of an 
individual of indeterminate age and sex. No known individuals were 
identified. The four associated funerary objects are stone flakes. 
Diagnostic artifacts from site 34Lt3 suggest that the human remains 
were buried during the Late Archaic or Woodland Periods (1500 B.C.-A.D. 
1000).
    In 1987, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Elliott site (34Py68) in Payne County, Oklahoma. 
Material from the site was discovered eroding from a stream bank, and 
was donated to the Museum in 1988. The human remains include a complete 
skeleton of an adult male 30-40 years in age. No known individuals were 
identified. The 19 associated funerary objects include one hematite 
boatstone and 18 faunal bone fragments. Diagnostic artifacts from site 
34Py68 suggest that the human remains were buried during the Woodland 
or Plains Village Periods (300 B.C.-A.D. 1500).
    The sites listed in this notice are located in central and eastern 
Oklahoma, and date from the Late Archaic to the early contact period. 
Archeological, ethnographic, geographic, and historic evidence, as well 
as oral tradition demonstrate a continuity of cultural patterns in the 
region, and support a relationship between the earlier groups at these 
sites and the present-day Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and the Wichita and 
Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

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 118 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 1,590 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 Tribes.

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 Dr. Marc Levine, Assistant Curator of 
Archeology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History,

[[Page 52525]]

University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, 
telephone (405) 325-1994, email [email protected], by November 16, 2018. 
After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is responsible for 
notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 6, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-22592 Filed 10-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P