[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35525-35526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14312]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032221; 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 
August 5, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 
Marshall 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 Chickasaw Nation and The 
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

    On April 2, 1942, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Wheeler Farm site (34Ma23) in Marshall 
County, OK. The site was excavated by the Works Progress Administration 
under the direction of the University of Oklahoma, and the excavated 
materials were transferred to the Museum the same year. The human 
remains include a complete skeleton, probably male, 35-50 years old. No 
known individual was identified. The 77 associated funerary objects 
are: One historic coarse earthenware vessel, one ceramic pipe, 36 
faunal bones, two brass hooks with small leather fragments of a firearm 
holster, three brass rivets, nine brass buttons, one brass small rivet 
with leather fragments still attached, two unidentified brass 
fragments, five iron buckles, three iron 4-holed buttons, one 
unidentified iron fragment, one iron butcher knife, one iron muzzle 
loading pistol, one iron ramrod for the pistol, one iron screw, one 
iron spoon (found inside the vessel), and eight leather fragments.
    The Wheeler Farm Site is Historic in age (1830s-1870s). The site 
has been determined to be culturally affiliated with The Chickasaw 
Nation and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, based on the location of the 
site, associated

[[Page 35526]]

diagnostic cultural materials, historical documentation, and 
information provided by the consulting Indian Tribes.

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 77 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 The Chickasaw 
Nation 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 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 
Chickasaw Nation and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma may proceed.
    The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is responsible for 
notifying The Chickasaw Nation and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 28, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-14312 Filed 7-2-21; 8:45 am]
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