[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86373-86374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27369]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037055; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Oregon Museum 
of Natural and Cultural History, Eugene, OR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural 
History 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 University of 
Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History. 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

[[Page 86374]]

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 University of Oregon Museum of Natural 
and Cultural History at the address in this notice by January 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Pamela Endzweig, Director of Anthropological 
Collections, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 1224 University of 
Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1224, telephone (541) 346-5120, 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 University of 
Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Eugene, OR. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from four sites in 
Multnomah and Columbia counties, OR.
    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 
University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation; Confederated Tribes 
of Siletz Indians of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde 
Community of Oregon; and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs 
Reservation of Oregon (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, seven individuals, 
were removed from the Cholick Site (35MU1) in Multnomah County, OR. The 
museum records indicate that the human remains were excavated during 
legally authorized excavations at the Cholick Site by University of 
Oregon archeologists. The human remains consist of three adults of 
indeterminate sex, one adult male, and one adolescent and two children 
of indeterminate sex (cat. #s 11-535, 11-536, 11-546, and unnumbered 
human remains from unit C and from Feature 8). No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from the Lyons Site (35MU6) in Multnomah County, OR. These 
human remains were also excavated during legally authorized work by 
University of Oregon archeologists. The human remains consist of a 
single individual of indeterminate age and sex (cat. #11-545). No known 
individuals were identified. The eight associated funerary objects are 
two cobble hammerstones, one metal fragment, and five glass beads.
    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Meier Site (35CO5) in Columbia County, OR, during 
legally authorized excavations by University of Oregon archaeologists. 
The human remains consist of one tooth from a single individual of 
indeterminate age and sex (no catalog number assigned). No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from an unknown location in Columbia or Multnomah 
counties, OR. These human remains were recovered at the time of the 
legally authorized investigations by University of Oregon archeologists 
working in the Portland Basin of the Lower Columbia Valley as described 
above. The human remains consist of a single adult, possibly female (no 
catalog number assigned). No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    According to published materials referencing the sites and burials 
above, the Cholick Site is assigned to the Multnomah 1 sub-phase of the 
regional chronology, dated to 200-1250 CE. One burial feature (Feature 
1) was recorded during excavations, and charcoal from the same stratum 
was radiocarbon-dated to 151090 RYBP. The Lyons and Meier 
Sites are assigned to the Multnomah 2 and 3 sub-phases of the Multnomah 
Phase (1250-1835 CE). This is supported by the presence of glass beads 
with the Lyons site burial. Historical documents, ethnographic sources, 
and oral history indicate that the Multnomah people occupied the 
Portland Basin of the Lower Columbia Valley since pre-contact times. 
Based on the museum records of provenience, the human remains are 
reasonably believed to be Multnomah. Descendants of the Multnomah are 
members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of 
Oregon.

Determinations Made by the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and 
Cultural History

    Officials of the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and 
Cultural History have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 10 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the eight 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 
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.

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. Pamela Endzweig, Director of 
Anthropological Collections, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 
1224 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1224, telephone (541) 346-
5120, email [email protected], by January 12, 2024. After that date, 
if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Confederated 
Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon may proceed.
    The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History is 
responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: December 6, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-27369 Filed 12-12-23; 8:45 am]
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