[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21882-21883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08326]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030075; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Longyear Museum of Anthropology, 
Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Longyear Museum of Anthropology has completed an inventory 
of human remains, 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 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 should submit a written request to the Longyear 
Museum of Anthropology. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the 
Longyear Museum of Anthropology at the address in this notice by May 
20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Jordan Kerber, Curator of Archaeological Collections, 
Longyear Museum of Anthropology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 
13346, telephone (315-228-7559), 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 Longyear Museum of Anthropology, Colgate University, 
Hamilton, NY. The human remains were removed from Madison County, NY.
    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. 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 Longyear 
Museum of Anthropology professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Cayuga Nation; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; 
Delaware Tribe of Indians; Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut 
(previously

[[Page 21883]]

listed as Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut); Oneida Nation 
(previously listed as Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin); Oneida 
Indian Nation (previously listed as Oneida Nation of New York); 
Onondaga Nation; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (previously listed as St. 
Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York); Seneca Nation of Indians 
(previously listed as Seneca Nation of New York); Seneca-Cayuga Nation 
(previously listed as Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma); Shinnecock 
Indian Nation; Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin; Tonawanda Band 
of Seneca (previously listed as Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New 
York); and the Tuscarora Nation (hereafter referred to as ``The 
Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date before 1960, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from the Thurston site, 
Stockbridge, Madison County, NY, by Herbert Bigford, Sr. In 1959, the 
Longyear Museum of Anthropology purchased the artifact collection of 
Mr. Bigford from his widow. The human remains consist of a phalanx. It 
is more likely than not that the phalanx is of a Native American. These 
human remains were removed from ``Burial 14?,'' as recorded in Mr. 
Bigford's catalogue. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date before 1981, human remains representing, at 
minimum, two individuals were removed from the Thurston site, 
Stockbridge, Madison County, NY, by Theodore Whitney. In 1980, Mr. 
Whitney donated his collection to the Longyear Museum of Anthropology. 
The human remains of individual 1 consist of one clavicle and one 
scapula. The human remains of individual 2 consist of two cranial 
fragments. One cranial fragment is possibly a piece of an occipital, 
and the other cranial fragment is possibly a piece of a temporal or an 
occipital. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    The Thurston site dates to A.D. 1625-1640 based on recovered 
European artifacts, such as glass beads, a snuff box dated 1634, kaolin 
smoking pipes, and Jesuit rings. These objects were recovered by 
members of the Chenango Chapter of the New York State Archaeological 
Association. The Thurston site is located in the aboriginal territory 
of the Oneida Iroquois (Haudenosaunee), and the dates of occupation 
correspond to a time when the Oneida Iroquois are known, from 
historical sources and oral history, to have occupied the region.
    At an unknown date before 1966, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from Site #49, near the southwest 
shore of Poolville Lake (aka Poolville Pond), Poolville, Madison 
County, NY, by Walter (``Bud'') Bennett. In 1965, the estate of Mr. 
Bennett donated his collection to the Longyear Museum of Anthropology. 
The human remains consist of one cranial fragment. The cranial fragment 
is possibly a piece of a temporal or an occipital. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The age of Site #49 dates to ca. 5000 years ago and was occupied 
intermittently until colonial times based on recovered archeological 
materials, such as dated projectile points and European artifacts. 
These objects were recovered by members of the Chenango Chapter of the 
New York State Archaeological Association. Site #49 site is located in 
the aboriginal territory of the Oneida Iroquois (Haudenosaunee), and 
the dates of occupation correspond to a time when the Oneida Iroquois 
are known, from historical sources and oral history, to have occupied 
the region.
    At an unknown date prior to 2001, human remains representing, at 
minimum, two individuals were removed from one or more unknown sites 
likely located in Madison County, NY, by Gordon Ginther. In 2000, Mr. 
Ginther donated his collection to the Longyear Museum of Anthropology. 
The human remains of individual 1 consist of three tibia fragments. The 
human remains of individual 2 consist of a cranial fragment. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Mr. Ginther was an avocational archeologist who excavated several 
Oneida sites in Madison County, NY, during the 1980s and in 1990. The 
known sites represented in the Ginther Collection at the Longyear 
Museum of Anthropology are all Oneida sites. They include Bach (ca. 
1550), Diable (ca. 1570), Dungey (ca. 1650), Marshall (ca. 1630), 
Primes Hill (ca. 1696), Stone Quarry (ca. 1640), Thurston (ca. 1625), 
and Vaillancourt (ca. 1525). Thus, all of the human remains removed by 
Mr. Ginther likely derive from one or more Oneida sites in Madison 
County, NY.
    Madison County is located in the aboriginal territory of the Oneida 
Iroquois (Haudenosaunee), and the period of occupation of the sites 
that Mr. Ginther excavated correspond to a time when the Oneida 
Iroquois are known, from historical sources and oral history, to have 
occupied the region.

Determinations Made by the Longyear Museum of Anthropology

    Officials of the Longyear Museum of Anthropology have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of six individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 the Oneida Indian Nation (previously listed 
as Oneida 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Jordan 
Kerber, Curator of Archaeological Collections, Longyear Museum of 
Anthropology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, telephone (315-
228-7559), email [email protected], by May 20, 2020. After that date, 
if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of 
the human remains to the Oneida Indian Nation (previously listed as 
Oneida Nation of New York) may proceed.
    The Longyear Museum of Anthropology is responsible for notifying 
The Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 25, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-08326 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
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