[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 104 (Friday, May 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32412-32414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11567]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030224; 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 
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 
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 Department of 
Anthropology, Southern Methodist University. If no additional 
requestors 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: 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 associated funerary 
objects 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 and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Department of 
Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Henderson 
County, TX; Wood County, TX; Red River County, TX; and Sabine and De 
Soto Parishes, LA.
    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 
Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from Henderson County, TX. The human remains 
from this collection include 21 long bone fragments, one vertebra, and 
one metatarsal. The human remains were found with four chert bifaces 
and a projectile point of Cuney type (Turner et al. 2011). The age and 
cultural affiliations of the human remains are based on the projectile 
point, as no further contextual evidence is available. These cultural 
items are part of the Harper collection, which was donated by an 
avocational archeologist to Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 
1967. The only provenience information provided for the human remains 
from the Harper collection is ``HE5''. Based on comparable provenience 
information for the other items he donated, it appears that Harper 
employed his own numbering system, together with a county abbreviation, 
to identify each site from which he removed particular items. The 
current Texas county with the designation ``HE'' is Henderson County. 
No known individuals were identified. The five associated funerary 
objects are four chert bifaces and one projectile point.
    Between 1975 and 1979, human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed during excavations undertaken by SMU ahead of 
construction of the Lake Fork Reservoir, in Wood County, TX. Although 
the primary objective of these excavations was to identify and preserve 
sites ahead of reservoir construction, artifact analysis was used to 
identify settlement patterns. Human remains were found at four sites--
the Osborne Site, the Spoonbill Site, the Sandhill Site, and the Yantis 
Site.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from the Osborne Site (X41WD16/41WD73). Burial 1 contained cranial 
fragments, five tarsal and metatarsal fragments, and highly fragmentary 
long bone sections. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from the Spoonbill Site (X41WD109/41WD518). Burial 3 contained nearly 
complete cranial fragments, though no maxillary or mandibular 
structures survived. Only fragments of the post-cranial remains were 
excavated; they are still encased in soil. No known individuals were 
identified. The seven associated funerary objects are ceramic vessels.

[[Page 32413]]

    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from the Sandhill Site (X41WD108). As Burial 1 was badly deteriorated, 
only a few long bone fragments were excavated; they remain encased in 
soil. No known individuals were identified. The four associated 
funerary objects are ceramic vessels.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from the Yantis Site (X41WD27/41WD45). Burial 3 has few records 
associated with it beyond a note from Bob D. Skiles, an avocational 
archeologist who worked in the area. Fragments of a skull are encased 
in a limestone or plaster substance, so it is not possible to determine 
the extent to which the human remains are preserved. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1968, human remains representing, at minimum, 63 individuals 
were removed from the Sam Kaufman Site in Red River County, TX. 
Excavations funded by the National Park Service and conducted by Alan 
Skinner, an ARP Principle Investigator affiliated with SMU, were 
conducted in order to study the site before it was destroyed by 
flooding of the nearby Red River. Burial 1 is an adult of unknown age 
and sex; the human remains are extremely fragmentary. Burial 2 is an 
eight-year-old child of unknown sex. Burial 3 is an adult between 36-50 
years old and likely female. Burial 4 is 50+ year-old male. Burial 5 is 
an adult female of unknown age range and exhibits arthritic lipping on 
the lower thoracic vertebrae. Burial 6 is 36-50 years old, likely 
female, and exhibits periostitis on the ulnae, radii, and tibiae. 
Burial 7 is an adult whose sex and age range is indeterminate. Burial 8 
is a 36-50 year-old female, and exhibits arthritic lipping on lower 
thoracic vertebrae. Burial 9 has an unknown sex and age range. 
Skeletons 6 through 9 are part of the multiple burial feature. Skeleton 
6 is a 36-50 year-old female. Skeleton 7 is 36-50 years-old and likely 
female. Skeleton 8 is a 36-50 year-old female. Skeleton 9 is a 19-35 
year-old female. Skeletons 10 through 20 are part of the shaft burial 
feature. Skeleton 10 is a 13-14 year-old of indeterminate sex. Skeleton 
11 is a 36-50 year-old male. Skeleton 12 is a 17-18 year-old and likely 
male. Skeleton 13 is a 36-50 year-old female. Skeleton 14 is a 36-50 
year-old male. Skeleton 15 is a 36-50 year-old female exhibiting a 
green stain on the mastoid area of the left temporal bone. Skeleton 16 
is a 36-50 year-old male, and exhibits some evidence of arthritic 
lipping and a green stain above the external auditory meatus. Skeleton 
17 is a 36-50 year-old male. Skeleton 18 is a 36-50 year-old male. 
Skeleton 19 is a female, likely between 19-35 years old. Skeleton 20 is 
a 36-50 year-old male, and exhibits a thickened diploe layer on a 
cranial bone. The remaining 40 individuals are represented by one or a 
few skeletal elements. Their sex and age are unknown. No known 
individuals were identified. The 1,032 associated funerary objects are 
12 individual and two lots of faunal bone, 42 stones, 111 individual 
and one lot of sherds, two pollen samples, 77 reconstructed pots, 652 
beads, 64 individual and two lots of shell, 46 projectile points, seven 
lithic artifacts, one lot of dirt, five gorgets, onet copper sheet, two 
pipes, one red pigment, one green pigment, two celts, and one unknown 
artifact.
    The Sam Kaufman Site is estimated by Alan Skinner, to date to the 
McCurtain phase (A.D. 1300-1700), i.e. the Caddo II (A.D. 1200-1400), 
Caddo III (A.D. 1400-1500), and Caddo IV (A.D. 1500-2700) periods. 
Pottery types found at this site are affiliated with the Caddo Nation 
of Oklahoma. The published report affiliates this site with the 
ancestral Caddo. The Caddo Nation of Oklahoma claims Red River County, 
TX, as an area of interest.
    In 1966, human remains representing, at minimum, 12 individuals 
were removed from the Bison B Site (16SA4) in Sabine Parish, LA, by 
Principal Investigator Ned Woodall. The individuals from the Bison B 
Site (16SA4) are referred to by feature number. Feature 2 is an 
adolescent male 10-19 years old. Feature 4 is an adult male 20-50 years 
old. Feature 5 is an adolescent 10-19 years old, whose sex is 
indeterminate due to the fragmentary nature of the human remains. 
Features 6A and 6B were commingled; 6A is an adult 20-50 years old of 
indeterminate sex, and 6B is a child 1-10 years old of indeterminate 
sex. Feature 7 is an adult male 20-50 years old. Feature 8 is an adult 
female 20-50 years old. Feature 12 is an adult 20-50 years old of 
indeterminate sex due to the fragmentary nature of the human remains. 
Feature 14 is an adult female 20-50 years old. Feature 15 is an 
adolescent 10-19 years old of indeterminate sex. Feature 16 is a child 
1-10 years old of indeterminate sex due to the fragmentary nature of 
the human remains. Feature 17 is an adult 20-50 years old of 
indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified. The 143 
associated objects are 29 projectile points, 66 vessels, one lump of 
clay, one biface, one pipe, one lot of yellow ochre pigment, one 
opossum mandible fragment, one fox squirrel faunal remains, 36 bone 
fragments, one sherd, one single-side notched dart point, one mussel 
shell, two ear spools, and one lot of green pigment.
    In 1967-1968, human remains representing, at minimum, eight 
individuals were removed from site 16SA17 in Sabine Parish, LA, by 
James V. Sciscenti. Excavations funded by the National Park Service and 
conducted by the Archaeology Research Program affiliated with SMU prior 
to the inundation of the Toledo Bend Reservoir, on the border of Texas 
and Louisiana. Burial 1 is an adult 20-50 years old of indeterminate 
sex. Burial 2 is an adult 20-50 years old of indeterminate sex. Burial 
3 is an adult male 20-50 years old. Burial 4 is an adult female 20-50 
years old. Burial 5 is an adolescent 10-19 years old of indeterminate 
sex. Two cremations were found adjacent to one another in small, 
circular pits. There is no identifying information for Cremation 1. 
Cremation 2 is an older adult 50+ years old. A single finger bone from 
Lot 8-3 represents an adult of indeterminate sex. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1966, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the James Pace Site (16DS10) in De Soto Parish, LA, 
by Harold P. Jensen. Burial 1 is an adult 20-50 years old of 
indeterminate sex due to the poor preservation of the human remains. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The Toledo Bend sites are estimated to date to the Alto Focus (A.D. 
900-1200). Pottery types found at this site are affiliated with the 
Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. The published report affiliates this site 
with the ancestral Caddo. The Caddo Nation of Oklahoma claim Sabine and 
De Soto Parishes, LA, as areas of interest.

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 represent the physical remains of 91 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 1,191 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.

[[Page 32414]]

     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 Caddo 
Nation of Oklahoma.

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 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 and associated 
funerary objects to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University is 
responsible for notifying the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: April 21, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-11567 Filed 5-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P