[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35528-35529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14309]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032216; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Illinois State Museum, 
Springfield, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Illinois State Museum has completed an inventory of human 
remains and associated funerary objects,

[[Page 35529]]

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 Illinois State 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 Illinois State Museum at the address in 
this notice by August 5, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Brooke M. Morgan, Curator of 
Anthropology, Illinois State Museum, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, 
IL 62703, telephone (217) 785-8930, 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 Illinois State 
Museum, Springfield, IL. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from the Zimmerman archeological site in LaSalle 
County, IL.
    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 Illinois 
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1970, human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals 
were removed from the Zimmerman site (11LS13) in LaSalle County, IL, 
during archeological excavation by Dr. Margaret K. Brown on behalf of 
the LaSalle County Historical Society, Utica, IL. All five individuals 
were found in a single burial pit identified as Feature 13. One 
individual was buried in an extended position and the others were 
buried in a bundle. The extended burial (Burial 23) was that of an 
infant. The bundle contained the remains of an adult male 25-35 years 
old (Burial 24), two infants both around two years of age (Burials 25A 
and 25B), and the partial skeleton of an adult female (Burial 26). 
Based on skeletal traits and archeological context, these five 
individuals have been determined to be Native American. The human 
remains were housed at the LaSalle County Historical Society following 
Dr. Brown's excavations. As early as the 1990s, they were thought to be 
lost; in 2010, the collection was rediscovered. In 2011, the human 
remains and associated funerary objects were transferred to the 
Illinois State Museum. No known individuals were identified. The eight 
associated funerary objects are seven blue glass beads and one cut deer 
mandible that were found in association with Burials 25A and/or 25B.
    The Zimmerman site, also known as the Grand Village of the 
Kaskaskia and Grand Village of the Illinois State Historic Site, is a 
multicomponent pre- and post-contact village site located on the north 
bank of the Illinois River opposite Starved Rock State Park. French 
Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette and explorer Louis Jolliet 
encountered the Grand Village on their 1673 voyage up the Illinois 
River and documented it in their journals. The Grand Village of the 
Kaskaskia served as a large permanent summer residence for the 
Kaskaskia, Peoria, Cahokia, and other members of the Illinois 
Confederation during the 17th century. European trade goods indicate 
the individuals from Feature 13 represent post-contact burials of the 
Illinois Confederation. The Illinois Confederation's present-day 
descendants are members of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by the Illinois State Museum

    Officials of the Illinois State Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of five 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 Peoria 
Tribe of Indians 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. Brooke M. Morgan, Curator of 
Anthropology, Illinois State Museum, 1011 East Ash St., Springfield, IL 
62703, telephone (217) 785-8930, email [email protected], by 
August 5, 2021. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma may 
proceed.
    The Illinois State Museum is responsible for notifying the Peoria 
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 28, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-14309 Filed 7-2-21; 8:45 am]
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