[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47514-47516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18273]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032471; 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 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 University of Michigan. 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 University of Michigan at the address in 
this notice by September 24, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project 
Manager, University of Michigan, Office of Research, 4080 Fleming 
Building, 503 Thompson Street, 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 the Riverside Cemetery site (20ME1), 
Menominee County, MI.
    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 
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA) 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, 
Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of 
Michigan; Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana; Match-e-
be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Menominee 
Indian Tribe of Wisconsin; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Mille 
Lacs Band); Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan 
[previously listed as Huron Potawatomi, Inc.]; and the Pokagon Band of 
Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana (hereafter referred to as 
``The Consulted Tribes'').
    The Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians 
of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Chippewa Cree Indians of the 
Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana [previously listed as Chippewa-Cree 
Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana];

[[Page 47515]]

Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Forest County Potawatomi 
Community, 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); 
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation [previously listed as Prairie Band of 
Potawatomi Nation, Kansas]; Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian 
Reservation, California & Arizona; 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 referred to as ``The Invited Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1956-57, human remains representing, at minimum, nine 
individuals were removed from the Riverside Cemetery site (20ME1) in 
Menominee County, MI, by UMMAA archeologist A.C. Spaulding. Spaulding 
excavated the multi-component site, and it was later excavated by 
others on multiple occasions (the UMMAA does not possess all of the 
human remains and items excavated from the Riverside Cemetery site. The 
human remains belong to one child 5-9 years old, of indeterminate sex; 
one cremated young adult 17-19 years old, of indeterminate sex; one 
adult male 30+ years old; one adult of indeterminate sex; one cremated 
infant; and four cremated adults of indeterminate sex. No known 
individuals were identified. The 25 associated funerary objects are one 
lot of small, white perforated flat beads; one lot of conical copper 
points; one lot of small, flat, and irregular-shaped copper fragments; 
one lot of faunal bone fragments and charcoal; one lot of shouldered 
projectile points; one lot of copper points/cones; one lot of small, 
heavy copper fragments; one lot of projectile point tip fragments; one 
lot of faunal bone fragments, bark fragments, and red ochre; one lot of 
large, red ochre-stained obsidian cores; one lot of copper beads and 
bark fragments; one lot of red ochre-stained flint scrapers and flakes; 
one lot of red ochre-stained rounded whetstones; one lot of copper 
awls; one lot of socketed copper spears; one lot of flat-stemmed or 
fish-tailed copper projectile points; one lot of red ochre-covered 
chert projectile points; one lot of wood fragments; one lot of red 
ochre-covered beaver tooth fragments; one lot of red ochre-coated wood 
and bone fragments; one lot of red ochre- and copper-stained faunal 
bone fragments; one lot of dog cranium fragments with vials of red 
ochre; one lot of red ochre-stained and perforated lynx scapula 
fragments; one lot of flat-stemmed copper projectile points and wood 
fragments; and one lot of red ochre-stained faunal scapulae.
    The Riverside Cemetery site has evidence of occupation dating from 
the Late Archaic (2550-300 B.C.) through the Late Woodland Period (A.D. 
500-1100). Two components--Features 6 and 14--are associated with 
burials belonging to the Old Copper Culture of the Late Archaic/Early 
Woodland Period, based on diagnostic artifacts. Three different burial 
treatments were noted at the site: Cremations, burial in red ochre, and 
burial without ochre. Feature 6 contained a flexed burial with red 
ochre and copper points. The cranium of a dog was found near the pelvis 
of the individual. Ochre covered the entire skeleton, but was thicker 
over the head and legs, in a lens suggesting the body was wrapped in a 
skin or bark. A bundle was found with flints, beaver teeth, antler 
shaft wrench, copper points, flint points, wood, animal bone, and a 
smoothing stone. Feature 2, which was located near Feature 6, was 
identified by red ochre staining. Cremated human remains were present 
that were disturbed and incomplete. Above this cremation were several 
cord-marked pottery sherds as well as a fluted axe however the 
association between these objects and the burial is described as 
uncertain due to the distance of the objects from the human remains. 
Excavation Unit 4 was reported as badly disintegrated bone. The human 
remains were cremated and calcined. Feature 13, a disturbed pit 
containing calcined bones, contained no artifacts. Feature 14 contained 
ochre-stained sand in a pit. At the bottom of the pit was a large block 
of obsidian resting on strands of heavy copper beads which were wrapped 
in bark. Beneath the obsidian and copper beads was a pile of crushed 
cremated bones deposited on top of bark which lined the bottom of the 
pit. The bark was noted by the fibrous structures in organic material; 
however, it was too fragile to collect. The strands of copper beads 
appeared to loop back and forth upon the cremated bones. Features 11 
and 12 were two pits that came together, both containing red ochre and 
small fragments of human bone and a conical copper point.
    The human remains have been determined to be Native American based 
on dental traits, mortuary treatment, diagnostic artifacts, and 
archeological context. A relationship of shared group identity can be 
reasonably traced between the Native American human remains from this 
site and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. Menominee tribal 
experts provided evidence for cultural affiliation based on their long-
standing presence in the Menominee River Valley, which they believe 
establishes ties of territorial ethnicity to these burials. Museum 
experts believe the burials are associated with Old Copper Culture 
which geographically includes, but reaches beyond, the Menominee River 
Valley. However, tribal experts also provided information that suggests 
there were regional variations within Old Copper Culture, and this 
pattern points toward an association between these particular burials 
and the Menominee traditional homelands. After considering the best 
available information, and in light of the preponderance of the 
evidence threshold required under the law and regulations, the 
determination was made that the totality of the various lines of 
evidence suggest the Menominee are culturally affiliated with these 
particular burials.

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 represent the physical remains of nine individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 25 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), 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 
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

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. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, 
University of Michigan, Office of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 
Thompson

[[Page 47516]]

Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, email 
[email protected], by September 24, 2021. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Menominee Indian 
Tribe of Wisconsin may proceed.
    The University of Michigan is responsible for notifying The 
Consulted Tribes and The Invited Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 18, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-18273 Filed 8-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P