[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70520-70521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26782]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033082; 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 in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the 
definition of an unassociated funerary object. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim this cultural item should 
submit a written request to the American Museum of Natural History. If 
no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the 
cultural item 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 this cultural item 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 January 10, 2022.

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 a cultural item under the 
control of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, that 
meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object 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 item. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item

    In 1902, one cultural item was removed from Mahong Swamp, located 
in Shinnecock Hills, Suffolk County, NY, by William Payne. The item was 
gifted to the Museum in 1903 by Samuel Parrish and accessioned into the 
collection that same year. According to Museum records, a metal spoon 
was found lying by the skull of an ``apparently Indian'' skeleton, 
which crumbled upon exposure to the air. The unassociated funerary item 
is a ``seal top'' spoon. Examples of this type of spoon range from A.D. 
1494 to 1699. Shinnecock Hills lies within the contact period territory 
of the Shinnecock Indians.

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 one cultural item 
described above 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 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 object and the Shinnecock Indian Nation.

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 
this cultural item should submit a written request with information in 
support of the claim to Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural 
History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, 
telephone (212) 769-5837, email [email protected], by January 10,

[[Page 70521]]

2022. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, 
transfer of control of the unassociated funerary object to the 
Shinnecock Indian Nation may proceed.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Shinnecock Indian Nation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 3, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-26782 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P