[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34227-34228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11962]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030267; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of 
Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (Museum) 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 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 
Museum. 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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Museum at the address in this notice by 
July 6, 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, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. The 
human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 
Muskogee County, 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

[[Page 34228]]

Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & 
Tawakonie), Oklahoma (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1957, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals 
were excavated by the University of Oklahoma at site 34Ms20 in Muskogee 
County, OK. At an unknown date, the associated cultural materials were 
transferred to the Museum. The human remains include the partial 
skeleton of an adult male 20-35 years old that were commingled with 
remains of a child 7-9 years old, a young adult 18-22 years old of 
indeterminate sex, and a young adult 20-30 years old of indeterminate 
sex. No known individuals were identified. The eight associated 
funerary objects are faunal bone fragments.
    Based on the presence of diagnostic artifacts (chipped and ground 
stone, ceramics, bone tools and ornaments), the human remains and 
associated funerary objects were most likely interred at site 34Ms20 
during the Mississippian Period (A.D. 1000-1500). Furthermore, the 
diagnostic material is consistent with cultural distribution patterns 
in the Arkansas River Valley. The archeological data, together with 
ethnohistoric data, ethnographic data, and tribal oral histories, show 
that the human remains and associated funerary objects are 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 four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the eight 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 Tribes.

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 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 July 6, 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: May 4, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-11962 Filed 6-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P