[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24499-24500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07365]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037680; 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 associated funerary objects 
and has 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.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects 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, four individuals have been reasonably identified. The one 
associated funerary object is a worked piece of bone. In 1895, human 
remains representing a minimum of three individuals were removed from 
Santa Catalina Island, California. They were excavated from a possible 
battlefield site by J.N. Plumb and party and described as prehistoric 
in age. G.W. Cotterill donated the remains in 1899 and the American 
Museum of Natural History accessioned them that same year. A piece of 
worked bone, which may represent a tool or hair pin, was found stored 
with one individual. In 1896, the Museum purchased human remains 
representing a minimum of one individual from the Giffort Brothers. A 
handwritten note on the cranium indicates that the individual was 
removed from San Nicolas Island, California. Based on available 
information and tribal consultation, these remains from Santa Catalina 
Island and San Nicolas Island representing a minimum of four 
individuals are affiliated with the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, 
California; Pala Band of Mission Indians; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission 
Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California; Pechanga Band of 
Indians (previously listed as Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians 
of the Pechanga Reservation, California); Rincon Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of Rincon Reservation, California; Santa Ynez Band of 
Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California; and 
the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, California.

[[Page 24500]]

    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 and associated funerary objects 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 four individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The one object described in this notice is reasonably 
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony.
     There is a reasonable connection between the human remains 
and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the La 
Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, California; Pala Band of Mission 
Indians; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima 
Reservation, California; Pechanga Band of Indians (previously listed as 
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, 
California); Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of Rincon 
Reservation, California; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of 
the Santa Ynez Reservation, California; and the Soboba Band of Luiseno 
Indians, California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects 
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 
and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not 
competing requests. The American Museum of Natural History 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 10.10.

    Dated: March 22, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-07365 Filed 4-5-24; 8:45 am]
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