[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46010-46012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17561]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032425; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann 
Arbor, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Michigan 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 no cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 
University of Michigan. If no additional requestors come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in 
this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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 University of Michigan at the address in this notice 
by September 16, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project 
Manager, University of Michigan, Office of Research, 4080 Fleming 
Building, 503 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 
647-9085, 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 University of 
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Antrim, Newaygo, and Roscommon Counties, MI.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by the University of Michigan Museum of 
Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA) professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; 
Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rock Boy's Reservation, Montana 
[previously listed as Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's 
Reservation, Montana]; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa 
Indians, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Vieux 
Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Michigan; Little River 
Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa 
Indians of Montana; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, 
Michigan; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Mille Lacs Band); 
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and the Sault Ste. Marie 
Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan.
    The Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians 
of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of 
Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of 
Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of 
Wisconsin; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Bois Forte Band (Nett 
Lake); Fond du Lac Band; Grand Portage Band; Leech Lake Band; White 
Earth Band); Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior 
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, 
Minnesota; Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa 
Indians of Wisconsin; and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians 
of North Dakota were invited to consult but did not participate.
    Hereafter, all Tribes listed in this section are referred to as 
``The Tribes.''

History and Description of the Human Remains

    On unknown dates in, or before, 1924, human remains representing, 
at minimum, two individuals were removed from the Leavitt Mound site 
(20AN2) in Antrim County, MI. The site is located near Grass Lake, and 
human remains and objects were removed from the site on multiple 
occasions. In August of 1924, an amateur collector removed human 
cranial remains from the site and subsequently donated them to the 
UMMAA. The human remains represent one adult, 30-60 years old, female. 
In the summer of 1924, a second amateur collector removed objects from 
the site and in September of 1924 donated them to the UMMAA. On an 
unknown date, a third amateur collector removed human cranial remains 
from the site and in November of 1924 sold them to the UMMAA. The human 
remains are one adult, female. The site has been dated to the Middle 
Woodland Period (300 B.C.-A.D. 500) based on the diagnostic artifacts. 
No known individuals were identified. The three associated funerary 
objects present are one lot of stone pipe preform made from Petoskey 
Stone, one lot of gray chert biface and side-notched projectile point, 
and one lot of shell bowl.
    In August of 1928 and on an unknown date in 1965, human remains 
representing, at minimum, five individuals were removed from the Brooks 
Mound site (20NE1) in Newaygo County, MI. The Brooks Mound site is 
located in Brooks Township near the Muskegon River and consists of a 
complex of several mounds of varying sizes. In 1928, an archeologist 
from the UMMAA excavated two mounds at the site. Human remains from two 
individuals were removed from Mound A. One individual was interred in a 
crouching position with the head far down upon the chest. A dark red 
pigment was noted covering the person's face. The individual was buried 
with a platform pipe. A ceramic vessel, which originally held pieces of 
the red pigment, and a small turtle carapace were placed near the left 
shoulder, and multiple salt water species shell beads were placed near 
the left side of the person's jaw. Multiple individuals were noted in 
Mound 6 (possibly also known as Mound Q). The mound was described as 
containing an oblong burial pit where a bundle burial of three crania 
and long bones of five individuals were interred. Near the top of the 
burial was a ceramic vessel containing red sand and decorated with 
curvilinear lines with short cross-hatching. A second ceramic vessel 
was

[[Page 46011]]

also removed from the mound. It was noted as being small, with a 
constricted neck, three incised bands, and the body drawing to an ``egg 
point'' on the bottom. The mounds were described as lacking distinct 
stratification and were streaked throughout with charcoal, ash, and 
fire-cracked rock. Between 1965 and 1966, another archeologist from the 
UMMAA excavated the site again. Additional human remains and objects 
were identified in the backfill dirt from the 1928 excavation of Mound 
A as well as from an Unknown Feature. The human remains from the site 
are one young adult, indeterminate sex; one adult, possibly male, with 
cranial modification; one adult, possibly female, with cranial 
modification; one juvenile; and one cremated adult. The site has been 
dated to the Middle Woodland Period (300 B.C.-A.D. 500) except for the 
intrusive burial in Mound A, which dates to the Early Late Woodland 
Period (A.D. 500-1000), and the Unknown Feature, for which a date could 
not be determined. Dating was based on the burial treatment and 
diagnostic artifacts. No known individuals were identified. The 27 
associated funerary objects present are one lot of earthenware from two 
vessels; one lot of platform pipe with charred botanical remains; one 
lot of red ochre and coarse sandy soil sample; one lot of slate 
pendants; one lot of lithic blade; six lots of earthenware sherds; one 
lot of lithic flake; one lot of lithic blade fragment; one lot of 
lithic blade and lithic blade fragment; one lot of beaver incisor 
fragment; two lots of shell bead; one lot of corner-notched projectile 
point; one lot of a piece of sandstone; one lot of earthenware sherds 
and antler point fragment; one lot of lithic flakes and lithic scraper; 
one lot lithic blade fragments; one lot circular lithic biface; one lot 
lithic biface; one lot quartzite biface; one lot lithic biface; and one 
lot soil sample.
    Beginning on July 6, 1965, human remains representing, at minimum, 
three individuals were removed from the Carrigan Mound A site (20NE106) 
in Newaygo County, MI. The mound is the largest of a complex of five 
mounds located in Croton Township, near the confluence of the Big and 
Muskegon Rivers. A UMMAA archeologist excavated two burials from 
Carrigan Mound A. The first was an infant in the central portion of the 
mound. A large, partially articulated dog was also noted as interred in 
the mound. The second burial was described as a carbonaceous pit which 
held a child buried in a flexed, upright position with the individual 
resting on their heels and with their head facing northwest. The pit 
contained some charcoal; however, the human remains in this burial 
showed no sign of burning. The individual was interred with multiple 
objects located in the person's lap. Two hearths were also found within 
the mound near its base containing cremated bone and projectile points. 
Museum records note all of the burials from this site as being 
intrusive into the mound. The human remains are from one infant, 16-32 
months old; one child, 7.5-12.5 years old; and one cremated adult. 
Carbon 14 analysis of a charcoal log located beneath the burial of the 
child was dated to A.D. 680 +/- 120 years and the two hearths found 
within the mound were dated to 540 B.C. +/- 150 years and 590 B.C. +/- 
150 years. The site is dated to the Early Woodland Period (850 B.C-A.D. 
1000) and Early Late Woodland Period (A.D. 500-1000) based on C14 
analysis and diagnostic artifacts. No known individuals were 
identified. The 46 associated funerary objects present are one lot of 
shell beads; one lot of beaver incisor fragments; one lot of bifacial 
slate tool; one lot of ochre-stained ground stone gorget; one lot of 
antler tool fragments with soil, one lot of yellow ochre-stained soil 
concretions with an embedded lithic; one lot of lithic debitage 
fragments and soil concretions; one lot of lithic bifaces, flake, 
earthenware sherds, and soil concretions with yellow ochre; one lot of 
lithic drill and clay fragment; one lot of lithic biface fragment; one 
lot of stone celt; one lot of quartzite flake; one lot of antler tine 
tool; one lot of deer bone tool fragments and beaver incisor fragment 
with sand; one lot of grinding stones; one lot of copper pin hafted in 
faunal bone and faunal bone fragment; one lot of copper pin; one lot of 
beaver incisor fragment; one lot of corner-notched projectile point and 
triangular biface blank; one lot of lithic scraper; one lot of faunal 
bone bead; one lot possible fire-cracked rock; one lot lithic debitage 
fragments; one lot unworked fossil fragments; one lot cremated and non-
cremated faunal bone and unworked fossil; one lot rounded stone; one 
lot lithic debitage fragments, unworked pebbles, and cremated faunal 
bone fragments; one lot possible lithic debitage fragments; one lot 
earthenware sherd; one lot earthenware rim sherd; one lot soil sample 
with concretion, stone, botanicals, charcoal, and faunal bone 
fragments; one lot charcoal with sand; one lot conifer charcoal with 
sand; one lot charcoal; one lot charcoal with soil; one lot lithic 
debitage fragment; one lot lithic debitage fragment; one lot lithic 
debitage fragment; one lot soil sample; one lot lithic debitage 
fragment and charcoal; one lot cremated faunal bone fragments with 
soil; one lot faunal bone fragments, pebble, disintegrating sandstone, 
and unworked snail shell fragment; one lot earthenware rim sherd; one 
lot soil sample with charcoal; one lot Quercus sp. charcoal fragments 
with soil and stone; and one lot possible Canis sp. faunal bone 
fragments.
    On an unknown date in 1965, human remains representing, at minimum, 
33 individuals were removed from the Mallon Mounds site (20NE31) in 
Newaygo County, MI. The site consists of a series of mounds located 
south of the Muskegon River near Bills Lake. The site was subjected to 
intense looting over the years, as well as an excavation conducted by 
amateur collectors in 1954. In 1965, an archeologist from the UMMAA 
excavated Mounds A, B, E, F, and H at the site. The Museum holds only 
the human remains and objects from this UMMAA-led excavation. The 
mounds contained bundle burials, extended burials, and cremations. Some 
interments were believed to be secondary burials. Mound A was between 
2.5 and 3 feet high with a diameter of 35 feet. A ceramic vessel was 
placed at the right shoulder of one of the extended individuals. Mound 
B was 2 feet high with a diameter of 35 feet and described as holding 
three distinct burials. Burned animal bone and ceramic sherds were 
associated with two of the burials. Mound E was the smallest of the 
group that was excavated and had previously been cut into by a dirt 
trail. This mound was estimated to have a height of 12 inches and a 
diameter of 19 feet. Mound F was the largest of the group at 2 feet 
high with a diameter of 50 feet. Mound H was 2.5 feet high with a 
diameter of 33 feet, and ceramic sherds from two distinct vessels were 
noted as associated with a partial in-situ secondary burial of two 
individuals. Both Mounds F and H showed evidence of previous looting. 
The human remains are two infants, 8-16 months old; one infant, 2-4 
years old; two children, 3-5 years old; one child, 6-10 years old; two 
children, 7.5-12.5 years old; one juvenile, less than 16 years old; one 
juvenile, less than 18 years old; one adolescent/young adult, 16-22 
years old; one adolescent/young adult; one adult, 18-24 years old; one 
adult, 20-45 years old, possible female with a post-mortem perforation 
and cranial modification; one adult, 20-30 years old, possible female; 
one adult, 24-40 years old, possible female with dental caries; one 
adult, 24-40 years old, possible male with supernumerary

[[Page 46012]]

tooth; one adult, 24-40 years old, possible male; one adult, 25-55 
years old, possible male with osteoarthritis, fused vertebrae, and 
dental abscesses; one adult, 25-60 years old, possible male with a 
possible infection; one adult, 30+ years old; one adult, 35+ years old, 
possible male with a possible infection; one adult with a possible 
infection; six adults; and four cremated adults. The site has been 
dated to the Late Middle Woodland/Early Late Woodland Period (300 B.C.-
A.D. 1000) based on diagnostic artifacts. No known individuals were 
identified. The 28 associated funerary objects present are one lot of 
copper pan pipe with botanical insert, quadrilobate ceramic vessel, and 
soil sample; 11 lots of earthenware sherds; one lot of earthenware 
sherds and charcoal fragments; one lot faunal bone fragments; one lot 
earthenware sherds; one lot soil sample with rocks and faunal bone 
fragments; one lot soil sample with pebbles, charcoal, and botanical 
inclusions; one lot side-notched projectile point; one lot soil sample 
with stones and botanical inclusions; one lot soil sample with stones; 
one lot soil sample; one lot charcoal, sand, and pebbles; one lot 
charcoal and botanical inclusions; one lot soil sample with charcoal, 
pebbles, and cremated faunal bone fragments; one lot charcoal and 
lithic flake; one lot soil sample with charcoal; one lot charcoal fleck 
fragments with sand; and one lot soil sample with charcoal and lithic 
inclusions.
    In October and November of 1956, human remains representing, at 
minimum, six individuals were removed from the Palmiteer Mound site 
(20NE101) in Newaygo County, MI. Two amateur collectors excavated Mound 
3, which is part of a larger mound group, located near the Muskegon 
River. The oblong burial pit within the mound was noted to contain a 
bundle burial, a Busycon sp. conch shell, 200 copper beads, and an 
antler bone tool. Only the human remains were donated to the UMMAA soon 
after they were excavated. At a later date, the UMMAA received two 
copper beads from a different collector that were also recorded as 
being from the site. The human remains are one infant 18 months to 2 
years old; one child 4-6 years old; one juvenile; one adolescent 12-15 
years old; one adult 35+ years old, sex indeterminate with a possible 
underlying infection; and one adult, sex indeterminate. The site has 
been dated to the Middle Woodland Period (300 B.C.-A.D. 500) based on 
the burial treatment and diagnostic artifacts. No known individuals 
were identified. The three associated funerary objects present are one 
lot of copper beads; one lot unworked faunal bone fragment; and one lot 
unworked faunal bone fragments.
    On an unknown date in 1847, human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual were removed from the St. Helen's Lake site in Roscommon 
County, MI. The human remains and earthenware sherd were removed from a 
mound, and donated to UMMAA by a person associated with the Michigan 
Geological Survey from the Department of Conservation. It is unclear 
how the site was excavated and if the human remains are associated with 
the sherd. The human remains are one adult 30-50 years, sex 
indeterminate. No known individual was identified. The site is dated to 
the Early Late Woodland based on the earthenware sherd. The one 
associated funerary object is one lot earthenware sherd.

Determinations Made by the University of Michigan

    Officials of the University of Michigan have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on cranial morphology, dental 
traits, accession documentation, and archeological context.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 50 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 108 objects 
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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian Tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of The Tribes.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of The 
Tribes.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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. Ben 
Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of Michigan, Office of 
Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-
1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, email [email protected], by September 
16, 2021. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed.
    The University of Michigan is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 4, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-17561 Filed 8-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P