[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50068-50069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20617]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028866; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann 
Arbor, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Michigan (UMMAA) has completed an inventory 
of human remains, 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 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 
should submit a written request to the University of Michigan. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains 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 should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the University of 
Michigan at the address in this notice by October 24, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of 
Michigan, Office of the Vice President for Research, 4080 Fleming 
Building, 503 South Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, 
telephone (734) 647-9085, 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 Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human 
remains were removed from the Lake Cormorant (22.0029/13-P-8) and Irby 
(22.0030/13-P-10) sites, DeSoto County, MS.
    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. 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 Michigan professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of The Chickasaw Nation and The Quapaw Tribe of Indians 
(hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Human Remains

    In January of 1958, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Lake Cormorant site (22.0029/13-P-8) 
in DeSoto County, MS. The site is located near the junction of Lake 
Cormorant and an old meander of the Mississippi River. The property 
owner described the site as having two mounds, but only one 1-2 foot 
high mound was present in 1940. Plowing disturbed the site. The site 
was excavated multiple times by multiple parties. The human remains in 
the UMMAA's possession were donated by Gregory Perino of the Gilcrease 
Foundation on February 18, 1958. UMMAA records for these human remains 
are minimal. The burial is believed to date to the Middle Mississippian 
Period (A.D. 1200-1500) based on non-burial-related diagnostic 
artifacts collected from the site. The one individual is an adolescent/
young adult 12-20 years old of indeterminate sex, with marked fronto-
occipital cranial modification and mild porotic hyperostosis throughout 
the cranial vault (possibly from mineral deficiencies). No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In January of 1958, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Irby site (22.0030/13-P-10) in DeSoto 
County, MS. The site is located on a natural levee of the Alpike Bayou 
near a junction with Johnson Creek. The site was described as a single 
mound of indeterminate shape. The north end of the mound has been 
plowed and was noted as having a heavy deposit of daub. Daub was also 
noted as being abundant on the bank west of the mound and scattered 
throughout an adjacent field. The site has been excavated multiple 
times by multiple parties. The human remains in the UMMAA's possession 
were donated by Gregory Perino of the Gilcrease Foundation on February 
18, 1958. UMMAA records for these human remains are minimal. The burial 
is believed to date to within the Late Woodland (Baytown) and Middle 
Mississippian Periods (A.D. 400-1500) based on non-burial-related 
diagnostic artifacts collected from the site. The one individual is an 
adult 30-40 years old and possibly male, with marked fronto-occipital 
cranial modification, mild porotic hyperostosis throughout the cranial 
vault (possibly from mineral deficiencies), and a possible depression 
fracture above the left eye orbit. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the University of Michigan

    Officials of the University of Michigan have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on cranial morphology, 
accession documentation, and archeological context.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains 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 Chickasaw Nation.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains were removed 
is the aboriginal land of The Tribes.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains may be to The Tribes.

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 should submit a written request with information 
in support of the request to Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, 
University of Michigan, Office of the Vice President for Research, 4080 
Fleming Building, 503 South Thompson Street, Ann Arbor,

[[Page 50069]]

MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, email [email protected], by 
October 24, 2019. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to The Tribes 
may proceed.
    The University of Michigan is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 6, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-20617 Filed 9-23-19; 8:45 am]
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