[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24497-24498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07364]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037678; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

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 American Museum of Natural History has 
completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there 
is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or 
after May 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central 
Park West, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 769-5837, 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 
American Museum of Natural History, and additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in the inventory or related records. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, three individuals have been reasonably identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. In 1875, human remains representing a 
minimum of one individual were removed from San Miguel Island, 
California, by Captain A.W. Chase. James Terry sold the human remains 
to the American Museum of Natural History in 1891, and they were 
accessioned that year. In 1924, human remains representing a minimum of 
two individuals were purchased from Felix von Luschan with funding from 
Felix Warburg and accessioned by the Museum. Handwritten notes on the 
crania of each individual indicate that they were removed from Santa 
Rosa Island, California. Biological information for the remains of one 
individual suggests they may date to the Mission Period. These remains 
from San Miguel Island and Santa Rosa Island are affiliated with the 
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez 
Reservation.
    While it no longer does so, in the past, the Museum applied 
potentially hazardous pesticides to items in the collections. Museum 
records do not list specific objects treated or which of several 
chemicals used were applied to a particular item. Therefore, those 
handling this material should follow the advice of industrial 
hygienists or medical personnel with specialized training in 
occupational health or with potentially hazardous substances.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available 
about the human remains described in this notice

Determinations

    The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of three individuals of Native American ancestry.
     There is a reasonable connection between the human remains 
described in this notice and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission 
Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this 
notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this 
notice under 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.
    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 in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after May 8, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation 
are received, the American Museum of Natural History must determine the 
most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint 
repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and 
not competing requests. The American Museum of Natural History is 
responsible for sending a copy of this

[[Page 24498]]

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 10.10.

    Dated: March 22, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-07364 Filed 4-5-24; 8:45 am]
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