[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54636-54637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22168]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028958; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Carnegie Museum of Natural 
History, Pittsburgh, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Carnegie Museum of Natural History 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 organizations 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these remains and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of 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 Carnegie Museum of Natural History at the 
address in this notice by November 12, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Amy Covell-Murthy, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 5800 
Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, telephone (412) 665-2606, 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 Carnegie Museum of 
Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from McKees Rocks Mound (36AL0006), 
Allegheny County, PA.
    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 Carnegie 
Museum of Natural History's professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as 
the Seneca Nation of New York).

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1896, human remains representing, at minimum, 41 individuals 
were removed from McKees Rocks Mound in Allegheny County, PA. This 
initial excavation of the site was conducted by Frank H. Gerrodette, 
Director of Carnegie Museum, and Western Pennsylvania Historical 
Society member Thomas Harper. The mound, identified

[[Page 54637]]

as comprising three distinct layers, included, at minimum, 33 distinct 
burials, midden by-products (lithic, pottery, and faunal materials), 
and approximately three hearth features. All the human remains and 
artifacts have remained in the possession of the Carnegie Museum of 
Natural History Anthropology Collection since their removal from the 
mound. No known individuals were identified. The sex and age of all the 
individuals has not been definitively determined (male and female human 
remains are present). At least one infant is among the human remains. 
Incomplete skeletal remains including burnt and unburnt bones, and 
cremated remains. The 914 associated funerary objects are 191 pottery 
sherds, 205 lithic artifacts, 39 animal bones and animal bone tools, 
412 beads, 55 unworked shells, one copper bear claw, and 11 charred 
plant remains.
    The mound is estimated to have been occupied by four distinct 
groups, first in the Early Woodland period, and again in the Middle and 
Late Woodlands. Some evidence of occupation by a panhandle archaic 
group prior to the mound's construction exists. The mound's initial 
construction was most likely carried out by a Late Adena group. Later 
it was utilized by groups related to the New York Hopewell and the 
Monongahela. Based on the historic occupation of Western Pennsylvania 
by the Seneca and recent stable isotope analysis work of 
bioarcheologists at California University of Pennsylvania, the human 
remains and associated funerary objects in this notice are Seneca.

Determinations Made by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Carnegie 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 41 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 914 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 Seneca 
Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca Nation of New York).

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 Amy Covell, Carnegie Museum of Natural 
History, 5800 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, telephone (412) 
665-2606, email [email protected], by November 12, 2019. After 
that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca Nation of New 
York) may proceed.
    The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca Nation of 
New York) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 20, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-22168 Filed 10-9-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P