[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30475-30476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11943]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032045; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Pennsylvania Museum 
of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology has completed an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary object, 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 
object 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 object should submit a written request to the University of 
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. If no additional 
requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and 
associated funerary object 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 object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology at the address in this notice by July 8, 
2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher Woods, Williams 
Director, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6324, telephone 
(215) 898-4050, 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 object under the control of the University of 
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA. 
The human remains and associated funerary object were removed from 
Lalor and Wright Fields site (28ME10), Mercer County, NJ.
    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 object. 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 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In November 1890, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals (record numbers 8286 and 8292) were removed from ``ash 
pits'' near Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by Ernest Volk (b. 1845-d. 
1919), according to the Museum's records. At the time, Volk was an 
archeologist working under the aegis of the Harvard Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology. Based on what is known about Volk's 
fieldwork activities (as gleaned from his notes of November 1890 and 
other, published information), these human remains most likely were 
removed from Lalor and Wrights Field site (28ME10). According to Volk's 
records, he dug two trenches at Lalor Field during November 3-8, 1890. 
In one, he found features that he labeled ``Potholes.'' Volk described 
the presence of bone, ash or charcoal (or both), lithics, pottery, and 
faunal remains. Based on this description, the Museum's records, and 
consultation information, the above listed human remains most likely 
were removed from these ``Potholes'' or from other features located 
during the Lalor Field excavations. That same month, these human 
remains were gifted to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology by Carl Edelheim and Clarence S. Bement, 
both of whom were associated with the University of Pennsylvania and 
its museum. How the human remains came to be in the possession of 
Edelheim and Bement is unclear. The human remains--cranial elements--
belong to two adults of undetermined sex. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is an unidentified 
animal bone (record number 8290).
    The archeological evidence from Lalor Field indicates this site 
dates to the Middle and Late Woodland Period. These human remains were 
determined to be Native American based on their archeological context 
and collection history. Archeological, consultation, historical, and 
linguistic information, and oral tradition support a cultural 
affiliation of this Woodland site with the Delaware (Lenape). Today, 
the Lenape are represented by three Indian Tribes--the Delaware Nation, 
Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.

Determinations Made by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology

    Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology

[[Page 30476]]

and Anthropology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object described 
in this notice is 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 object 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 object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. Christopher Woods, Williams Director, 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 
South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6324, telephone (215) 898-4050, 
email [email protected], by July 8, 2021. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary object to The Tribes may proceed.
    The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: May 25, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-11943 Filed 6-7-21; 8:45 am]
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