[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34226-34227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11967]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030268; 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].

[[Page 34227]]


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 Haskell 
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 Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1984, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Charles Roye Site (34Hs159) in Haskell County, 
OK. This site was surveyed in 1982, prior to construction of an ARKLA, 
Inc. gas line compressor station. During the survey, which was funded 
by the Bureau of Land Management, a burial was discovered. The site was 
excavated by the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, and the items recovered 
were brought to the Museum in 1984. The fragmentary human remains 
belong to an adult over the age of 20 of indeterminate sex. No known 
individual was identified. The 22 associated funerary objects include 
three glass fragments, four glass bead fragments, one historic ceramic 
cup fragment, and 14 historic ceramic sherd fragments.
    The Charles Roye Site dates to the late 1800s, based on the 
presence of European trade goods. Historic documents, including 
homestead deed records, show that the site lies within the region 
occupied by The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma during the 19th century.

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 one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 22 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 Choctaw 
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 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 Choctaw Nation 
of Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is responsible for 
notifying The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 4, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-11967 Filed 6-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P