[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54167-54168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22050]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028909; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Brooklyn Museum, 
Brooklyn, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Brooklyn Museum, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian Tribe, has determined that the cultural items listed in this 
notice meet the definition of sacred objects and objects of cultural 
patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe 
not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request to the Brooklyn Museum. If no 
additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural 
items to the Indian tribe stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request with information in support of the 
claim to the Brooklyn Museum at the address in this notice by November 
8, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Nancy Rosoff, Andrew W. Mellon Senior Curator, Arts of the 
Americas, Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238, 
phone (718) 501-6283, 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate five cultural items under the 
control of the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY, that meet the definition 
of sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony under 25 U.S.C. 
3001.

[[Page 54168]]

    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 
Brooklyn Museum. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    The five cultural items described in this notice were accessioned 
by the Brooklyn Museum between 1901 and 1967. The five objects include 
three ceramic vessels and two pieces of dance regalia. Information on 
the ceremonial roles of the objects is based on consultation that took 
place at the Brooklyn Museum on November 28, 2018, and through later 
written correspondence.
    One ceramic pitcher was collected in 1879 by Colonel James 
Stevenson at the Pueblo of Tesuque. In 1880, the pitcher entered the 
collection of the U.S. National Museum. It was transferred to the 
Brooklyn Museum in 1901. The pitcher is decorated with white, black, 
and red pigments. Design elements include clouds, rain, corn, and 
crosshatched geometric patterns. Tesuque representatives stated that 
the pitcher was used in community ceremonies.
    One ceramic storage jar was collected by Captain C. W. Riggs, 
likely between 1876 and 1891. Riggs' catalog indicates that the jar was 
collected from the Pueblo of Cochiti. In 1902, the Brooklyn Museum 
purchased the storage jar along with a selection of other Pueblo 
pottery collected by Riggs. The jar is decorated with black designs--
corn and circular motifs--on white pigment; the lower portion is 
painted red. While the jar was collected from the Pueblo of Cochiti, 
it's solid lines (without ceremonial breaks), wide mouth and tapered 
lower half, lack of human and animal figures, and presence of floral 
motifs all support a Tesuque origin. Consultants from the Pueblo of 
Tesuque identified this jar as one that would have been owned and used 
by Tesuque's Warrior Society.
    One buffalo hide robe was purchased by Brooklyn Museum curator 
Stewart Culin in 1907 from Benham Indian Trading Company in 
Albuquerque, NM, for $30. The trading company reported that the robe 
had been collected by Dr. Thomas S. Dozier, who said that it came from 
Tesuque. The painted design is of the ``box-and-border'' type, which is 
found throughout the central Plains. Representatives from Tesuque said 
that this robe was used in the Comanche Dance and was likely purchased 
from Comanche traders for this purpose.
    One headdress made from hide, dyed hair, horn, and fabric was also 
purchased by Brooklyn Museum curator Stewart Culin in 1907 from Benham 
Indian Trading Company in Albuquerque, NM. The only information 
provided by the store was that the headdress was from Tesuque. 
Representatives said that this headdress, like the buffalo hide robe, 
was worn for the Comanche Dance.
    One seed bowl was purchased by Brooklyn resident J. L. Greason 
(1868-1967) when he was living in Oregon. The bowl was donated to the 
Brooklyn Museum by Greason's estate after his death in early 1967. Mrs. 
A. Gordon, whose relation to Greason is unknown, corresponded with the 
Museum regarding the donation. The small bowl is covered with beige 
slip and is decorated with black feather designs around the rim. 
Tesuque consultants identified this as a ceremonial bowl used to hold 
seeds.

Determinations Made by the Brooklyn Museum

    Officials of the Brooklyn Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the five cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the five cultural items 
described above have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural 
importance central to the Native American group or culture itself, 
rather than property owned by an individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred 
objects and objects of cultural patrimony and the Pueblo of Tesuque, 
New Mexico.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request with information in support of the 
claim to Nancy Rosoff, Andrew W. Mellon Senior Curator, Arts of the 
Americas, Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238, 
phone (718) 501-6283, email [email protected], by 
November 8, 2019. After that date, if no additional claimants have come 
forward, transfer of control of the sacred objects and objects of 
cultural patrimony to the Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico, may proceed.
    The Brooklyn Museum is responsible for notifying the Pueblo of 
Tesuque, New Mexico, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 13, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-22050 Filed 10-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P