[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8036-8037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02975]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033386; 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 
March 14, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 Le 
Flore County, OK.
    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 Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band 
of Cherokee Indians; Quapaw Nation [previously listed as The Quapaw 
Tribe of Indians]; The Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Osage Nation [previously 
listed as Osage Tribe]; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee 
Indians in Oklahoma (hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted 
Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1938, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals 
were removed from the Redwine 1 site (34Lf71) in Le Flore County, OK. 
Some of the human remains were transferred to the Museum in the 1950s, 
In 2006, additional human remains were donated to the Museum by a 
descendant of one of the original excavators. The fragmentary human 
remains belong to one adult, 20-25 years old; two adults, 20-35 years 
old; and one adult more

[[Page 8037]]

than 20 years old. All the individuals are of indeterminate sex. No 
known individuals were identified. The 75 associated funerary objects 
are 46 blue glass beads, 10 red glass beads, six white glass beads, 
four smoky glass beads, four red and white glass beads, three clear 
glass beads, and two copper earrings.
    The Redwine 1 site has been dated to ca. A.D. 1838, based on the 
presence of diagnostic historic artifacts. Although this site is 
located within lands reserved for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, it 
was also inhabited by Cherokee groups. A review of the archeological, 
geographical, and historical evidence, as well as the information 
obtained via tribal consultation, has led the Museum to conclude that 
these individuals are most likely culturally affiliated with the 
Cherokee Nation, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the United 
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.

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 four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 75 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 Cherokee 
Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and the United Keetowah Band of 
Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (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 
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 March 14, 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 Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 3, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-02975 Filed 2-10-22; 8:45 am]
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