[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67294-67295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26434]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0029195; 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 organization, 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 
requesters 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: 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 January 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Marc Levine, Associate Curator of Archaeology, 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 McIntosh and Wagoner 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 Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), 
Oklahoma (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    From 1973 to 1976, human remains representing, at minimum, 17 
individuals were removed from the Plantation site (34Mi63) in McIntosh 
County, OK. The site was recorded by the Oklahoma Archeological Survey 
in 1973 as a part of a survey along Highway 69. Excavations were 
carried out by the Oklahoma Highway Archeological Survey in 1975, and 
the associated materials were subsequently turned over to the Museum. 
The human remains include the mostly complete skeleton of one young 
adult male, 25-35 years old; the partial skeletons of four adults--one 
female, two males, and one adult of indeterminate sex--all over 20 
years old; and fragmentary skeletons of one adult female over 20 years 
old; two middle adult males, 35-50 years old; five adults of 
indeterminate sex, all over 20 years old; one adolescent, 12-20 years 
old; and three children, 2-7 years old. No known individuals were 
identified. The 824 associated funerary objects include two charcoal 
samples, 71 faunal bone fragments, two stone biface fragments, two 
stone core fragments, 586 stone flakes, two stone projectile points, 
one stone scraper, four fire cracked rocks, seven stone beads, 96 
groundstone fragments, three unmodified sandstone fragments, five daub 
fragments, 36 ceramic sherds, one reconstructed Williams Plain ceramic 
vessel, and six soil samples.
    Diagnostic artifacts and radiocarbon dates associated with the 
Plantation site (34Mi63) burials indicate interment during the 
Mississippian Period, specifically the local Harlan through Spiro 
phases (A.D. 1100-1450).
    Between 1933-1935 and 1947-1948, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 83 individuals were removed from the Norman site (34Wg2) in 
Wagoner County, OK. Beginning in 1933, this site, which includes 
multiple mounds and a habitation area, was excavated three times under 
the auspices of the University of Oklahoma and with the support of the 
Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Works Administration. 
Further excavations were conducted in 1948 as a cooperative project 
between the University of Oklahoma, the Smithsonian River Basin 
Surveys, and the Tulsa District of the U.S., Corps of Engineers before 
the construction of the Fort Gibson Reservoir, which

[[Page 67295]]

subsequently flooded most of the site. The associated materials from 
the site were turned over to the Museum after each excavation season. 
The human remains include the complete skeletons of two adult females, 
20-35 years old; one adult female, 35-50 years old; and one adult male, 
20-35 years old. Partial skeletons include one infant, 1-3 years old; 
three children, 2-12 years old; one adolescent, 15-20 years old; one 
adult female over 20 years old; two adult females, 20-35 years; four 
adult females, 35-50 years old; three adults of indeterminate sex, one 
adult 20-35 years old and two adults 35-50 years old; two adult males 
over 20 years old; two adult males, 20-35 years old; six adult males, 
35-50 years old; one adult male over 50 years old; five adults of 
indeterminate sex, each over 20 years old. Fragmentary skeletons 
include one adult female over 20 years old; two adult females, 20-35 
years old; one adult female, 35-50 years old; one adult female over 50 
years old; two adult males over 20 years old; two adult males, 20-35 
years old; four adult males, 35-50 years old; eleven adults of 
indeterminate sex, each over 20 years old; three adolescents, 12-20 
years old; ten children, 2-12 years old; and seven infants, each less 
than 3 years old. The human remains also include commingled human 
remains of three individuals discovered among isolated finds and the 
partial skeleton of an adult of indeterminate sex, over 20 years old. 
No known individuals were identified. The 1,590 associated funerary 
objects are three charcoal samples, 87 faunal bone fragments, nine 
chipped stone flakes, five stone bifaces, 32 stone projectile points, 
one stone scraper, two stone celts, 12 stone copper-covered ear spools, 
two decorated stone ear spools, one gray stone ear spool, one mano, one 
stone pipe, one unmodified sandstone block, two stone abraders, six 
ochre samples, one stone effigy pipe, three unmodified rocks, one 
quartzite rock, two copper bodkins (pins), one copper plate with raptor 
motif, one copper plate fragment with cross and bird motif, one clay 
bead, 80 decorated ceramic vessels, 311 ceramic decorated sherd 
fragments, 18 undecorated ceramic vessels, three partially 
reconstructed undecorated ceramic vessels with 19 associated sherds, 
806 undecorated ceramic sherds, one ceramic pipe, three green clay 
samples, seven clay samples, 12 unidentified fired clay fragments, 76 
seeds, 26 shell beads, one shell ornament, 30 shell fragments, one 
sample of burial matrix, two textile fragments, six cedar wood beads, 
six wood bodkins, and seven wood fragments.
    Diagnostic artifacts and radiocarbon dates associated with the 
burials from the Norman site indicate interment during the 
Mississippian Period, specifically the local Harlan and Norman phases 
(A.D. 1100-1350).
    In 1975, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the Mathews site (34Mi71) in McIntosh County, OK. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were discovered eroding 
from the ground surface, and were collected by the Oklahoma 
Archeological Survey. All of the cultural materials were subsequently 
transferred to the Museum. The human remains include the fragmentary 
skeletons of two adults of indeterminate sex, 17-30 years old. No known 
individuals were identified. The four associated funerary objects are 
four faunal bone fragments. The Mathews site includes several pre-
contact components, from the Late Archaic Period (1500-300 B.C.) 
through the Mississippian Period (A.D. 1000-1500). The human remains 
and associated funerary objects were probably interred during the 
latter period.
    All of the human remains detailed in this notice were determined to 
be Native American based on their archeological context and collection 
history. Furthermore, all of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects were most likely buried during the Mississippian Period (A.D. 
1000-1500). Diagnostic artifacts from these sites (e.g., ceramics, 
chipped stone, ground stone, shell, ornaments) are consistent with 
cultural patterns in the Arkansas River Valley. The archeological data, 
together with ethnohistoric data, ethnographic data, and tribal oral 
histories, support the finding that the human remains and associated 
funerary objects in this notice can be culturally affiliated with the 
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 102 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 2,418 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 that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and The Tribes.

Additional Requesters 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, Associate Curator of 
Archaeology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University 
of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone 
(405) 325-1994, email [email protected], by January 8, 2020. 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: October 24, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-26434 Filed 12-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P