[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30476-30477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11944]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032044; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: 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, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or 
Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items 
listed in this notice meet the definition of unassociated funerary 
objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. If 
no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the 
cultural items 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 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, that meet the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    At an unknown date, 12 cultural items were removed from a 
``sarcophagus 4 ft. below the surface'' at an unidentified location 
near Trenton in Mercer County, NJ, by Charles C. Abbott (b. 1843-d. 
1919). These 12 cultural items were donated to the Academy of Natural 
Sciences of Philadelphia most likely between 1876 and 1894. In 1876, 
Abbott removed a further 10 cultural items from a grave at an unknown 
location near Trenton. Subsequently, these 10 cultural items were 
transferred to Samuel S. Haldeman. In September 1877, Haldeman's 
collection, including the 10 cultural objects, was donated to the 
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
    In 1936/1937, collections from the Academy of Natural Sciences of 
Philadelphia were loaned to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology, including the above enumerated 22 
cultural items, and in 1997, these 22 cultural items were gifted to the 
Museum. The 22 unassociated funerary objects are two pottery sherds 
(record numbers 97-563-337 and 97-563-6473A), 10 animal and fish bones 
(record number 97-563-6473B), and 10 marginella shell beads (record 
number 97-563-1141).
    Based on archeological, consultation, historical, linguistic, oral 
traditional, and geographic information, the cultural items date to the 
Woodland Period, and they were most likely connected to the Delaware 
(Lenape). Today, the Delaware (Lenape) are represented by three Indian 
Tribes--the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and 
the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin (hereafter referred to as 
``The Tribes'').

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

    Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology 
and Anthropology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 22 cultural items 
described above 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated 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 claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Dr. Christopher Woods, Williams Director, 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and

[[Page 30477]]

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 claimants have come forward, transfer of 
control of the unassociated funerary objects 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. 2021-11944 Filed 6-7-21; 8:45 am]
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