[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65667-65669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17877]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038464; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Omaha District, Omaha, NE, and University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 
Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN

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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 
District, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville intends to 
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 
unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with 
the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after September 11, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Livia Taylor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 
District, ATTN: CENWO-PMA-C, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102, 
telephone (402) 995-2434, email [email protected] and Dr. 
Ellen Lofaro, University of Tennessee, Office of Repatriation, 5723 
Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921-6053, telephone (865) 974-3370, 
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 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, and additional 
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results 
of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The 
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this 
notice.

Abstract of Information Available

North Dakota

    A total of 53 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 53 unassociated funerary objects are one dentalium shell, one 
charcoal fragment, and 51 faunal remains. The unassociated funerary 
objects were removed from the Boundary Mounds site (32SI1) in Sioux 
County, ND in 1960 by Robert W. Neuman as part of a Smithsonian River 
Basin Survey project. The unassociated funerary objects were then sent 
by the State Historical Society of North Dakota to William Bass. It is 
likely this occurred while Bass was at the University of Kansas and he 
later brought the unassociated funerary objects with him to University 
of Tennessee, Knoxville. The Boundary Mounds site is a Middle Woodland 
site with four burial mounds that has been identified as a Sonota 
Complex site dating between A.D. 1-600.

South Dakota

    A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. 
The one unassociated funerary object is a faunal

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remain. The unassociated funerary object was removed from the Pasco 
site (39AR8) in Armstrong County, SD. Little information on this site 
exists, but it is likely the object was removed during investigations 
in the 1950s. Site 39AR8 has been identified as an Extended Middle 
Missouri site (A.D. 1150-1550).
    A total of eight cultural items have been requested for 
repatriation. The eight unassociated funerary objects are faunal 
remains. The unassociated funerary objects were removed from the 
McKensey Village site (39AR201) in Armstrong County, SD. The objects 
were likely removed in during excavations in 1960 that were directed by 
Warren. W. Caldwell. Site 39AR201 has been identified as an Extended 
Middle Missouri site (A.D. 1150-1550).
    A total of 127 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 127 unassociated funerary objects are faunal remains. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from the Potts Village site 
(39CO19) in Corson County, SD. The objects were likely removed in the 
late 1980s and subsequently stored at South Dakota's State 
Archaeological Research Center (SARC). In 1988, these objects were 
transferred by SARC to UTK and were retained by UTK. The site is a 
fortified earthlodge village dating to the Extended Coalescent Period 
(A.D. 1550-1675).
    A total of 67 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 67 unassociated funerary objects are faunal remains. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from the Swift Bird Mounds 
site (39DW233). The site was first investigated in 1952 as part of the 
Smithsonian Institution River Basin Surveys and was later excavated 
between 1960-1962. The site consists of two burial mounds and an 
earthlodge village with several temporal components including Woodland 
(1500 B.C.-A.D. 900) and Extended Middle Missouri (A.D. 900-1700).
    A total of two cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The two unassociated funerary objects are faunal remains. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from the Bleached Bone site 
(39HU48) in Hughes County, SD. Investigations at the site occurred in 
1931 when Alfred Bowers removed eleven burials from a previously looted 
mound at 39HU48 and in 1962 by the Missouri River Basin Project (MRBP) 
in 1962, during which field crew 10, directed by William Bass, removed 
an additional 13 burials. The site included stone circles, mounds, and 
other configurations. Woodland Period (500 B.C.-A.D. 1000) pottery was 
reportedly found during the 1962 season. In addition, the presence of a 
metallic projectile point suggested possible occupation during the 
Historic Period.
    A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. 
The one unassociated funerary object is a faunal remain. The 
unassociated funerary object was removed from the Hickey Brothers site 
(39LM4) in Lyman County, SD. The object was likely removed during 1958 
excavations directed by Bernard Golden and crews from the Smithsonian 
Institution's River Basin Surveys. The site was fortified with evidence 
of an earthlodge and has been identified as a possible Extended Middle 
Missouri site (A.D. 1150-1550).
    A total of two cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The two unassociated funerary objects are faunal remains. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from the C.B. Smith site 
(39SL29) in Sully County, SD. The site was excavated in 1957 by Charles 
H. McNutt and crews from the Smithsonian Institution's River Basin 
Surveys. The site was a large earthlodge village that has been 
identified as being occupied during the Extended Middle Missouri (A.D. 
1150-1550).
    A total of 49 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 49 unassociated funerary objects are faunal remains. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from the Zimmerman site 
(39SL41) in Sully County, SD. The site was excavated in 1958 by Charles 
H. McNutt and crews from the Smithsonian Institution's River Basin 
Surveys. The site had several long, rectangular houses and has been 
identified as an Extended Middle Missouri site (A.D. 1150-1550).
    A total of 72 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 72 unassociated funerary objects are faunal remains. The 
unassociated funerary objects were removed from the Larson site 
(39WW2). This site was investigated several times throughout the 1960s 
and it is unknown at what time the objects were removed from the site. 
The site was a fortified village site that has been identified as being 
occupied in the Post-Contact Coalescent period (A.D. 1675-1780).
    A total of 12 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 12 unassociated funerary objects are five lithics and seven faunal 
remains. The unassociated funerary objects were removed from the Walth 
Bay site (39WW203) in Walworth County, SD. The site was excavated 
between 1970 and 1972 with W. Raymond Wood as the Principal 
Investigator. The site has been dated to the Extended Coalescent period 
(A.D. 1350-1620).
    No known hazardous substances were used to treat any of the 
cultural items described in this notice.

Determinations

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District has determined 
that:
     The 394 unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with 
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance 
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the 
Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by 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 cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after September 11, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 
District must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to 
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are 
considered a single request and not competing requests. The U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Omaha District is responsible for sending a copy of 
this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations 
identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.


[[Page 65669]]


    Dated: August 1, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-17877 Filed 8-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P