[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 206 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59755-59756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23488]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032880; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Temple University Anthropology 
Laboratory and Museum, Philadelphia, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Temple University Anthropology Laboratory and Museum has 
completed an inventory of human remains and an associated funerary 
object, 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 object 
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 
object should submit a written request to the Temple University 
Anthropology Laboratory and Museum. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary object 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 object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Temple University Anthropology Laboratory 
and Museum at the address in this notice by November 29, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Reeder-Myers, Temple University 
Anthropology Laboratory and Museum, 1115 Polett Walk, Gladfelter Hall 
Room 204, Philadelphia, PA 19122, telephone (215) 204-1418, 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 object under the control of the Temple University 
Anthropology Laboratory and Museum, Philadelphia, PA. The human remains 
and associated funerary object were removed from Warren County, NJ.
    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 object. 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 Temple 
University Anthropology Laboratory and Museum professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; 
Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Stockbridge-Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1991, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a burial on the Rapp Farm site in Warren County, NJ, 
by amateur archeologist Russ Davis. Davis discovered the human remains 
on a high bank on the southern side of the Pohatcong Creek, about 50 
feet from its junction with the Delaware River, in the Delaware Valley. 
Davis contacted professional archeologist Michael Stewart at Temple 
University, who visited the site. The human remains were brought to 
Temple University's Anthropology Laboratory for examination by physical 
anthropologist Leonard Greenfield, after which they were returned to 
Davis. In 2021, Davis donated the human remains to the Temple 
Anthropology Laboratory. The human remains belong to a thirty-something 
adult of unknown sex. No known individual was identified. The one 
associated funerary object is an incised earthenware sherd.
    The positioning of the human remains within the sedimentary context 
of the eroding riverbank indicates a date within the Late Woodland 
period (A.D. 900- 1600). The site's proximity to the Overpeck site, 
located about 5 miles away, on the west side of the Delaware River, 
indicates a cultural affiliation with Lenape descendants, the Delaware 
Tribes.
    Geographic affiliation is consistent with the historically 
documented territory of the Delaware Tribes. Archeological evidence is 
consistent with documented use of the area by the Delaware Tribes. 
Historical evidence and expert opinion indicate shared group identity 
between the Delaware Tribes and the Rapp Farm site.

Determinations Made by the Temple University Anthropology Laboratory 
and Museum

    Officials of the Temple University Anthropology Laboratory and 
Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice

[[Page 59756]]

represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American 
ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object 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 object 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 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Leslie Reeder-Myers, Temple University 
Anthropology Laboratory and Museum, 1115 Polett Walk, Gladfelter Hall 
Room 204, Philadelphia, PA 19122, telephone (215) 204-1418, email 
[email protected], by November 29, 2021. After that date, 
if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of 
the human remains and associated funerary object to The Tribes may 
proceed.
    The Temple University Anthropology Laboratory and Museum is 
responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: October 14, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-23488 Filed 10-27-21; 8:45 am]
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