[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2241-2243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00526]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037229; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Rhode Island, South 
Kingstown, RI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Rhode Island, South 
Kingstown, RI (URI) has completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects and has

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determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Bristol County, RI; Barnstable 
County, MA; Nantucket County, MA; and Plymouth County, MA.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after February 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Kristine M. Bovy, University of Rhode Island, Dept. of 
Sociology & Anthropology, 508 Chafee Hall, Kingston, RI 02881, 
telephone (401) 874-4143, email [email protected] and Fiona Jones, 
University of Rhode Island, 232 Chafee Hall, Kingston, RI 02881, 
telephone (860) 338-4288, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
University of Rhode Island. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice. Additional 
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results 
of consultation, can be found in the inventory or related records held 
by the University of Rhode Island.

Description

Harding Estates Site (RI-1755)

    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from Bristol County, RI. From late 1987 to mid-1988, the Public 
Archaeology Program (Rhode Island College) conducted Phase I through 
III survey of the future Harding Estates condominiums in the town of 
Bristol, RI. This site was designated as RI-1755.
    In May of 1988, upon returning for Phase II excavation, the 
archeologists learned that a human burial had been discovered during 
bulldozing for an access road. The bulldozing took place in between 
Phase I and Phase II; archaeologists were not present at the time. The 
access road where the burial was recovered was not within the initial 
survey region. The Bristol Police and Rhode Island Historic 
Preservation Commission (RIHPC) were immediately contacted by the 
archaeologists. It was determined that the human remains should be 
transferred to Dr. Marc Kelley, a professor of biological anthropology 
at URI for evaluation.
    Radiocarbon dating on artifacts found outside of the burial context 
concluded the site to date to the transitional Archaic-Woodland period. 
After inventorying in 2022, it was determined that there is, at 
minimum, one individual represented. The two associated funerary 
objects are two shell fragments.

Seneca Road Site (MAS-HA-15)

    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from Barnstable County, MA. In May of 1990, the Massachusetts 
Historical Commission (MHC) excavated the Seneca Road Site (MAS-HA-15) 
after a burial was disturbed during housing construction. Textiles were 
recovered from an unmarked grave dating to the 18th or 19th century. 
The textiles were transferred from the MHC to the University of Rhode 
Island (URI) for conservation, study, and curation. Hair and cranium 
fragments of one individual were not initially recognized and 
inadvertently sent to URI along with the textiles. The 21 associated 
funerary objects are lots of textile fragments.

Abrams Point II Site (NAN-HA-10)

    In 1992, 11 associated funerary objects were removed from Nantucket 
County, MA. During the construction of homes in Nantucket County, MA, 
20 graves were disturbed. This site was later excavated by the 
Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) and named the Abrams Point II 
Site (NAN-HA-10). It was determined that the burials most likely dated 
to the 18th century. One burial contained nine buttons, textiles, and 
fragments of a woven mat. These associated funerary objects were 
transferred to the University of Rhode Island for further analysis and 
preservation. No human remains from this site were transferred to the 
University of Rhode Island. The 11 associated funerary objects are nine 
buttons, one lot of woven mat fragments, and one lot of textile 
fragments.

Santuit Pond Road Site (MSH-HA-4)

    In May of 1988, three associated funerary objects were removed from 
Barnstable County, MA. During housing construction, the burial of one 
individual was recovered by the Massachusetts Historical Commission 
(MHC). The site was later named the Santuit Pond Road Site (MSH-HA-4). 
It was determined that the site most likely dated to the 18th or 19th 
century. The individual recovered was determined to be Native American. 
Textiles were found within the burial and were sent to URI in 1991 for 
analysis and preservation. No human remains from this site were 
transferred to the University of Rhode Island. The three associated 
funerary objects are three lots of textile fragments.

Descas Site

    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from Plymouth County, MA. The Decas Site was excavated in 
Rochester, MA, from 1962 to 1964 by members of the Massachusetts 
Archaeological Society (MAS). At an unknown time during the 
excavations, a cremation burial was recovered. A cranium was recovered, 
and the associated unidentifiable bone fragments and ashes were stored 
in a box. Subsequently, a member of the MAS gave the human remains to 
Carol Barnes, a professor of anthropology at Rhode Island College. The 
box has a label that reads: ``Cremation burial Dekas Site, S.E Mass. 
Gift of Mr. Thomas (C. Barnes) Box 2 252-3-D, Skull also.'' At this 
time no excavation reports from the MAS have been located, only short 
references in MAS annual bulletins. At an unknown time, the human 
remains were transferred to the University of Rhode Island. After 
inventorying in 2022, it was determined that there is a minimum of two 
individuals represented. No associated funerary objects are present.

Cultural Affiliation

    The human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice 
are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes, 
peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity 
between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures 
and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The 
following types of information were used to reasonably trace the 
relationship: archeological information, geographical information, 
historical information, and expert opinion.

Determinations

    Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after 
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations, the University of Rhode Island has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 37 objects described in this notice are reasonably 
believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at 
the time of death or

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later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
     There is a relationship of shared group identity that can 
be reasonably traced between the human remains and associated funerary 
objects described in this notice and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and 
the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the only Federally 
recognized Indian Tribes of the Wampanoag Tribes.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the 
Responsible Official identified in ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation 
may be submitted by:
    1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice and, if joined to a request 
from one or more of the Indian Tribes, Indian groups without Federal 
recognition that are a part of the Wampanoag Tribes.
    2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after February 12, 2024. 
If competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of 
Rhode Island must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to 
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not 
competing requests. The University of Rhode Island is responsible for 
sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9, Sec.  
10.10, and Sec.  10.14.

    Dated: January 5, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-00526 Filed 1-11-24; 8:45 am]
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