[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62888-62889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26442]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0026958; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Wisconsin Historical Society, 
Madison, WI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Wisconsin Historical Society 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 no cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 
Wisconsin Historical Society. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the 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 Wisconsin Historical Society at the address in this 
notice by January 4, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Jennifer Kolb, Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State St., 
Madison, WI 53706, telephone (608) 264-6434, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby 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 Wisconsin 
Historical Society, Madison, WI. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from two sites in Sauk County, WI.
    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 
Wisconsin Historical Society professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; 
Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; 
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin; and the Upper Sioux Community, 
Minnesota, hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1954 and 1955, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from Durst Rockshelter (47-SK-0002) in Sauk 
County, WI. The site was investigated by archeologist Warren Wittry of 
the Wisconsin Historical Society in 1954 and 1955 as a research project 
targeted at obtaining diagnostic chronological information of 
Wisconsin's prehistory. During excavations, Wittry discovered human 
remains representing one adult female and one individual of 
indeterminate age and sex. The adult female, found in a primary burial, 
had been interred in a flexed position in a prepared burial pit. The 
individual of indeterminate age and sex is represented by only a few 
skeletal elements that were found intermingled within occupation 
debris. Wittry could not determine whether the second set of human 
remains represented an intentional burial or had been displaced due to 
natural erosion or other causes. No known individuals were identified.

[[Page 62889]]

No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1959, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Clement Thering Mound (47-SK-0282) in Sauk County, 
WI. The mound was first investigated by the landowner, Clement Thering, 
in 1959. Upon discovery of human remains in a subfloor pit, Thering 
contacted Warren Wittry of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Wittry 
visited the site within a few days of being contacted, and excavated 
the human remains. Skeletal analysis conducted in 2003 determined that 
the remains represent a single adult male between the ages of 15 and 
18. No known individuals were identified. The six associated funerary 
objects are one group of shell ornaments, one group of charcoal and 
wood fragments, one group of raven remains, one group of chert flakes, 
one group of projectile points, and one probable deer toe bone.

Determinations Made by the Wisconsin Historical Society

    Officials of the Wisconsin Historical Society have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on Wisconsin Historical 
Society records, burial location, archeological context, oral 
histories, and skeletal analysis.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the six 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian 
Tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains were removed is the aboriginal land of 
the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Ho-Chunk 
Nation of Wisconsin and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

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 Jennifer 
Kolb, Wisconsin Historical Society, 816 State St., Madison, WI 53706, 
telephone (608) 264-6434, email [email protected], by 
January 4, 2019. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and the Winnebago 
Tribe of Nebraska may proceed.
    The Wisconsin Historical Society is responsible for notifying The 
Consulted Tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, and the Winnebago 
Tribe of Nebraska that this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 7, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-26442 Filed 12-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P