[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 104 (Friday, May 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32419-32420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11565]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030222; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology, 
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University 
(SMU) 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 Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist 
University. 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 Department of 
Anthropology, Southern Methodist University at the address in this 
notice by June 29, 2020.

ADDRESSES: B. Sunday Eiselt, Department of Anthropology, Southern 
Methodist University, 3225 Daniel Avenue, Heroy Hall #450, Dallas, TX 
75205, telephone (214) 768-2915, 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 Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist 
University, Dallas, TX. The human remains were removed from Dallas 
County, TX.
    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 
Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Apache Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; 
Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; and the Wichita and Affiliated 
Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Towakonie), Oklahoma (hereafter 
referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Hackberry Creek site in Dallas County, 
TX. The occupational timelines for Dallas County had been investigated 
multiple times by the Dallas Archaeological Society, The University of 
Texas, Arlington, and various CRM projects. No context is provided for 
the human remains, and it is not known if they are associated with the 
prehistoric artifacts from the site. An appendix by Harrell Gill-King, 
Ph.D., indicates that, more likely than not, all the bone fragments are 
from the same period. They are at least 200 years old, but their

[[Page 32420]]

age is ``probably much greater'' (Skinner and Ferring 1999).
    As a result of previous construction activities in the area, 
multiple sites were eroded. Surface survey and excavation revealed 
large numbers of prehistoric artifacts. Skinner and Ferring (1999) 
concluded that there had been ``one or more'' occupations in this area 
over an extended period of time, but that the artifacts associated with 
these occupations had been redeposited by natural and human activities, 
and that, therefore, they are not in their original depositional 
context. Artifact analysis indicates that a Late Archaic occupation 
definitely was present, but it is unclear if there was also a Late 
Prehistoric occupation. No artifacts were associated with the burial, 
because the specific context of the human remains is unknown. The 
definitive age of the burial is currently unknown. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Hutchins Sand and Gravel Yard in 
Dallas County, TX. The only provenience information provided for these 
long bone fragments is ``Hutchins Sand and Gravel Yard, about half a 
mile from the Trinity River.'' This yard, in Dallas County, TX, is 
unrelated to any SMU excavation project. Dr. Meltzer determined that 
the bones postdated the Pleistocene period stratum below them, but that 
their context may have been disturbed. Since this is the only extant 
contextual information, it is not possible to assign these human 
remains to a time period or culture, or even associate them with any 
artifacts. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Rowlett Creek in Dallas County, TX. The 
only provenience information provided for these bone fragments is 
``Rowlett Creek, 1980''. Presumably, the reference is to the Rowlett 
Creek that runs through Dallas County. The only known project related 
to Rowlett Creek was completed by AR Consultants and reported by Alan 
Skinner in 1990. No human remains, however, were identified during that 
project and, ultimately, the excavators determined that the only sign 
of occupation was a historic house in the Rowlett Creek Park area. 
Although the artifacts were connected to a collection of lithics, those 
lithics are just flakes and fire-cracked rock that are not indicative 
of a time period or culture. Moreover, the Skinner report indicates 
that the area was heavily eroded, and that no visible secure contexts 
were visible. Since this is the only extent contextual information, it 
is not possible to assign an associated time period or culture to these 
human remains. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Department of Anthropology, Southern 
Methodist University

    Officials of the Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist 
University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on geographical location.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three 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 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 B. Sunday Eiselt, Department of 
Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, 3225 Daniel Avenue, Heroy 
Hall #450, Dallas, TX 75205, telephone (214) 768-2915, email 
[email protected], by June 29, 2020. After that date, if no additional 
requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 
to The Tribes may proceed.
    The Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University is 
responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: April 21, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-11565 Filed 5-28-20; 8:45 am]
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