[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54525-54526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19166]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034446; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Pennsylvania Museum 
of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology 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 the University of Pennsylvania 
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. 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 the 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at 
the address in this notice by October 6, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher Woods, Williams 
Director, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6324, telephone 
(215) 898-4050, 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 the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA. The human remains were removed from 
Muskogee 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. 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 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin; and The Osage Nation (previously listed as Osage 
Tribe) (hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1832 and March of 1834, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from Muskogee County, OK. The 
human remains [catalogue number 97-606-40] were obtained by Dr. Zina 
Pitcher (b. 1797-d. 1872) who, at that time, served as the Army surgeon 
at Fort Gibson, in Muskogee County, OK. Dr. Pitcher transferred the 
human remains to Dr. Samuel G. Morton who, by 1839, had accessioned 
them into his collection. In 1853, Dr. Morton's collection, including 
these human remains, was purchased from his estate, and formally 
presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. In 1966, 
the Morton collection, including these human remains, was loaned to the 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and 
in 1997, it was formally gifted to the University of Pennsylvania. The 
human remains belong to a female between 35 and 50 years of age. 
Although no known individual was identified, archival documents 
indicate she was from a ``little colony on the Neosho River, near Fort 
Gibson.'' No associated funerary objects are present.
    The human remains have been identified as Native American based on 
specific cultural attributions contained in the museum's records and 
through consultation. Collector records, museum documentation, and 
published sources (Morton 1839, 1840, 1844, 1849; Meigs 1857) identify 
the human remains as Lenape or Delaware. Consultation information 
presented by The Osage Nation identifies the ``small colony'' as an 
early named Osage village associated with an important Osage leader and 
part of the lands ceded to the United States in the Treaty of 1818. The 
information presented by The Osage Nation, which

[[Page 54526]]

is supported by further information from the other three consulted 
Indian Tribes, indicates the human remains are culturally affiliated 
with The Osage Nation (previously listed as Osage Tribe).

Determinations Made by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology

    Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology 
and Anthropology have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual 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 Osage Nation (previously listed as Osage 
Tribe).

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 Dr. 
Christopher Woods, Williams Director, University of Pennsylvania Museum 
of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 
19104-6324, telephone (215) 898-4050, email [email protected], by 
October 6, 2022. After that date, if no additional requestors have come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains to The Osage Nation 
(previously listed as Osage Tribe) may proceed.
    The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology is responsible for notifying The Consulted Tribes that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 29, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-19166 Filed 9-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P