[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71385-71387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19684]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038623; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Science Museum of Minnesota, 
Saint Paul, MN

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 Science Museum of Minnesota has 
completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects 
and has determined that there is a cultural

[[Page 71386]]

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 October 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Alison Rempel Brown, President and CEO, Science Museum of 
Minnesota, 120 W Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55102, telephone (651) 
221-9415, 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 
Science Museum of Minnesota, and additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Human remains representing, at least, 19 individuals have been 
identified. The 479 associated funerary objects are bone harpoon 
points, bone beads, shell gorgets, shell ornaments/pendants, stone 
tools, pottery sherds, antler tine, shells, lithic flakes, bark 
fragments, and soil and rocks.
    The following have been determined to be culturally affiliated with 
the Prairie Island Indian Community based upon geographic location and 
oral tradition. One human cranium donated in 1949, found at Mendota, 
Minnesota (SMM Accession 2011). Two bone fragments and 16 teeth 
representing at least one individual from excavation at the Lee Mill 
Cave site (21DK0002) in Dakota County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum 
of Minnesota in 1953 (SMM Accession 2102). Six artifacts from 
excavation of Mound 1 and 2 at the Bremer Mounds site (21DK0005) in 
Dakota County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum of Minnesota in 1955 
(SMM Accession 2158). Twenty-two cranial fragments and 50+ small bone 
fragments representing at least one individual, and 14 artifacts from 
excavation of Mound 1 at the Schilling site (21WA0001) in Washington 
County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum of Minnesota in 1958 (SMM 
Accession 2167). Seven bone fragments and two (2) teeth from excavation 
in 1959-1960 (SMM Accession 2354) and two teeth from excavation in 2015 
(SMM Accession A2015:4) at the Sheffield site (21WA0001) in Washington 
County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum of Minnesota. Four-hundred and 
forty-eight artifacts from excavation of Mounds 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 at 
the Fort Sweney site (21GD0086) in Goodhue County, Minnesota, by the 
Science Museum of Minnesota in 1960-1962 (SMM Accession 2416). Eleven 
artifacts from excavation of burials at the Pemton/River Hills site 
(21DK0041) in Dakota County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum of 
Minnesota in 1968. Thirteen human bone fragments, 2+ likely human bone 
fragments, and 110 teeth/tooth fragments representing at least four 
individuals from excavation at the Mero site (47PI0002) in Pierce 
County, Minnesota, by the Institute for Minnesota Archaeology in 1991-
1992, and transferred to the Science Museum of Minnesota in 2001 (SMM 
Accession A2001:11). Twenty-five human bone fragments and eight bone 
fragments that are likely human representing at least one individual 
from excavation at the Energy Park site (21GD0158) in Goodhue County, 
Minnesota, by the Institute for Minnesota Archaeology in 1986-1990, and 
transferred to the Science Museum of Minnesota in 2001 (SMM Accession 
A2001:13). Four human cranial fragments and 11+ tooth fragments from 
representing at least one individual from excavation at the Silvernale 
site (21GD0003) in Goodhue County, Minnesota, by archaeologists 
affiliated with the Minnesota Archaeological Society, Carlton Summer 
Institute, and Hamline University in 1974, 1976, and 1977. The 
collection had been held by the Institute for Minnesota Archaeology 
until 2001 when it was transferred to the Science Museum of Minnesota 
(SMM Accession A2017:1). Five human bone fragments and six tooth 
fragments representing at least one individual from excavation at the 
Burnside School site (21GD0159) in Goodhue County, Minnesota, by the 
Institute for Minnesota Archaeology in 1995, and transferred to the 
Science Museum of Minnesota in 2001 (SMM Accession A2018:1). One human 
cranial fragment from the Science Museum of Minnesota's educational 
collection (not accessioned) from southeastern Minnesota. No additional 
information is available.
    The following have no provenience information and appear to be 
archaeological. The Prairie Island Indian Community ``recognizes that 
there is limited or no known provenience for these ancestral remains, 
and it is therefore highly unlikely that any clear descendant groups or 
relatives may claim them. The Prairie Island Indian Community is 
willing to accept these individuals into their family so that they can 
be reburied, rather than languishing without relatives in a museum.''--
Letter from Noah White, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, 22-June-
2024. Two human crania donated in 1958 without provenience (SMM 
Accession 2283). One human long-bone fragment donated in 1964 (SMM 
Accession A64:6). Unknown provenience. No additional information is 
available. Two cranial fragments that refit (not accessioned). Unknown 
provenience. No additional information is available. Thirty-three human 
bones stored together in a tray representing at least two individuals 
(not accessioned). Unknown provenience. No additional information is 
available. One human cranium and mandible. Unknown provenience. No 
additional information is available.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical 
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

    The Science Museum of Minnesota has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 19 individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 479 objects described in this notice are 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 connection between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Prairie 
Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota.

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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with 
cultural affiliation.
    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects

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described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 
3, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the 
Science Museum of Minnesota 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 Science Museum of Minnesota 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: August 26, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-19684 Filed 8-30-24; 8:45 am]
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