[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52998-52999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18737]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034428; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Michigan State University, East 
Lansing, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Michigan State University has completed an inventory of human 
remains, 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 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 
should submit a written request to Michigan State University. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Michigan 
State University at the address in this notice by September 29, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith Stoddart, Associate Provost, 
University Arts and Collections, Michigan State University, 287 Delta 
Court, East Lansing, MI 48824, telephone (517) 432-2524, 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 under 
the control of Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. The human 
remains were removed from Kite Pueblo, Torrance County, NM.
    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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Michigan 
State University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New 
Mexico; and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas. In addition, the 
following Indian Tribes were invited to consult but did not 
participate: Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (previously listed as Pueblo of 
San Juan); Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, 
New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Santo Domingo 
Pueblo (previously listed as Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico, and as Pueblo of 
Santo Domingo); and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. 
Hereafter, all the Indian Tribes listed in this section are referred to 
as ``The Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1994, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from Kite Pueblo (LA-199) in Torrance County, NM. 
Excavations were conducted by Michigan State University (MSU) under the 
direction of Dr. Alison Rautman. Kite Pueblo is a 50-room masonry-and-
adobe pueblo organized around a central plaza that was occupied from 
A.D. 1250 to 1350. Excavations conducted in the northwest corner of the 
plaza located a fetal burial, likely around 9.5 lunar months of age. No 
funerary objects were found in association with the burial. In addition 
to the burial, isolated human remains belonging to at least two 
individuals--an adult and juvenile--were recovered from midden and room 
fill across the site.
    The landowner signed a letter requesting the human remains not be 
reinterred on their property and donating the collections from the site 
to MSU; however, they were not accessioned into the MSU Museum system. 
Kite Pueblo was occupied by Ancestral Puebloan people from 
approximately A.D. 1250 to 1350.
    All the individuals listed in this notice are reasonably believed 
to be Ancestral Puebloan based on the

[[Page 52999]]

provenience and documentation associated with the human remains. A 
relationship of shared group identity can be traced between Ancestral 
Puebloan people and modern Puebloan groups, based on oral tradition, 
historical evidence, folkloric, archeological, geographical, 
linguistic, kinship, and scientific studies.

Determinations Made by Michigan State University

    Officials of Michigan State University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Judith 
Stoddart, Associate Provost, University Arts and Collections, Michigan 
State University, 287 Delta Court, East Lansing, MI 48824, telephone 
(517) 432-2524, email [email protected], by September 29, 2022. After 
that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed.
    Michigan State University is responsible for notifying The Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 24, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-18737 Filed 8-29-22; 8:45 am]
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