[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70523-70524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26781]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033081; 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 
January 10, 2022.

ADDRESSES: 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 Wilcox 
County, AL, and Pittsburg County, OK.

[[Page 70524]]

    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 Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and 
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime prior to 1970, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown site (1Wx00) in Wilcox County, 
AL. The human remains were obtained by a University of Oklahoma student 
prior to 1970, and subsequently were brought to the Museum. The 
fragmentary human remains belong to a female 35-50 years old. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects were present.
    The human remains were interred during the pre-contact era. Based 
on geographical, historical, and linguistic evidence, as well oral 
history and other information gained through tribal consultation, this 
individual was most likely associated with one of the Muskogean 
language speaking groups and, consequently, is culturally affiliated 
with The Tribes.
    In 1951, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals 
were removed from a field at the Moody site (34Ps28) in Pittsburg 
County, OK. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
recovered by archeologists from the University of Oklahoma. 
Subsequently, they were turned over to the Museum. The human remains 
include the complete skeletons of a young adult male 20-35 years old; a 
young adult female 20-35 years old; the partial skeleton of a young 
adult male 20-35 years old; and the fragmentary remains of an infant 1-
3 years old. No known individuals were identified. The 408 associated 
funerary objects include 70 ceramic sherds, 12 porcelain sherds, one 
porcelain saucer fragment, one tea cup fragment with floral designs, 73 
animal teeth and bone fragments, seven glass fragments, one ceramic 
pipe bowl fragment, 195 stone flakes, six projectile points, two 
projectile point fragments, one stone scraper, one gunflint, one stone 
cobble, four unidentified metal fragments, one tin cup, one brass 
ornament harness fragment, one brass spoon fragment, one steel 
fragment, one iron forged tomahawk head, two iron knives with bone 
handles, two iron bullet molds, one iron forged chain link, two 
unidentified iron fragments, one iron wrench, two bags of charred wood 
mixed with daub fragments or matrix, two charcoal fragments, and 16 
fragments of daub.
    The Moody site has been dated to the period A.D. 1850-1900. Based 
on archeological, geographical, linguistic, and historical evidence, as 
well oral history and information gained through tribal consultation, 
this site was most likely occupied by one of the Muskogean language 
speaking groups. Consequently, these individuals are culturally 
affiliated with The 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 five individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 408 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 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 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 January 10, 2022. 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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is 
responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: December 3, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-26781 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
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