[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 211 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60908-60909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24047]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032918; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: American Museum of 
Natural History, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), in consultation 
with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, 
has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request to the American Museum of Natural 
History. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control 
of the cultural items 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 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the American Museum of Natural 
History at the address in this notice by December 6, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nell Murphy, American Museum of 
Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, 
telephone (212) 769-5837, 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, that 
meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 
3001.
    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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    In 1896, one cultural item was removed from Andrew K. Rowan Farm, 
Grave 1, Trench #6, Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by Earnest Volk as part 
of an AMNH funded expedition. The cultural item was accessioned into 
the Museum's collection that same year. The one unassociated funerary 
object is a broken stone implement. Museum records indicate that the 
cultural item was removed from a grave, and artifact analysis dates the 
implement to the Middle Woodland Period (A.D. 200-900).
    In 1897, two cultural items were removed from Andrew K. Rowan Farm, 
Trench #8, Grave 2, one-mile south of Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by 
Earnest Volk as part of an AMNH expedition. The two cultural items were 
accessioned into the Museum's collection that same year. The two 
unassociated funerary objects are one pottery fragment and one stone 
implement. Museum records indicate that the two items were removed from 
a grave, and artifact analysis dates them to the Middle Woodland Period 
(A.D. 200-900).
    In 1898, one cultural item was removed from A. K. Rowan Farm, in 
the

[[Page 60909]]

Delaware Valley south of Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by Earnest Volk as 
part of an AMNH expedition. The cultural item was accessioned into the 
Museum's collection that same year. The one unassociated funerary 
object is a ceramic piece. Museum records indicate that the ceramic 
piece was removed from a grave, and artifact analysis dates the 
implement in the Middle Woodland Period (A.D. 200-900).
    The A.K. Rowan Farm lies within the Abbott Farm Historic District, 
a National Historic Landmark located in Lenape territory. Archeological 
and linguistic data indicate a cultural continuity there that extends 
back to the Middle Woodland Period.
    In 1898, three cultural items were removed from A.K. Rowan's Farm 
(terrace), near old homestead field, in the Delaware Valley, Mercer 
County, NJ, by Earnest Volk as part of an AMNH expedition. The cultural 
items were accessioned into the Museum's collection that same year. The 
three unassociated funerary objects are three wooden posts. A 
representative of the Delaware Tribe identified the three wooden posts 
as traditional Delaware grave markers from an area known to have Late 
Woodland/Historic Period burials. Radiocarbon dating of one of the 
posts (done at the request of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware 
Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin) indicates that all three posts likely date to the 18th 
century, a time during which the Delaware occupied the Abbott Farm 
area.

Determinations Made by the American Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the seven cultural items 
described above 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; 
Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Stockbridge-Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin (hereafter referred to as ``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 claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural 
History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 
769-5837, email [email protected], by December 6, 2021. After that date, 
if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of 
the unassociated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 23, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-24047 Filed 11-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P