[Federal Register: November 26, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 228)]
[Notices]
[Page 66487-66488]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no03-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Idaho, Alfred W.
Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology, Moscow, ID, and the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Baker
City, OR
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects in the possession of the University of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers
Laboratory of Anthropology, Moscow, ID, and in the control of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Wallowa-Whitman National
Forest, Baker City, OR. The human remains and associated funerary
objects were removed from burial sites in Nez Perce County, ID.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3).
The determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of
the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the
Native American human
[[Page 66488]]
remains and associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is
not responsible for the determinations within this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the
University of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Nez
Perce Tribe of Idaho.
On September 27-28, 1986, human remains representing a minimum of
two individuals were removed from the Cottonwood Creek site (10NP182),
Nez Perce County, ID, by Dr. Frank Leonardy. Dr. Leonardy's excavation
was part of a criminal investigation of an illegal excavation of
archeological resources on public land without a permit pursuant to the
Archaeological Resources Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 470cc (a). No known
individuals were identified. The 29 associated funerary objects are 5
dentalia beads, 2 bags of dentalia fragments, 8 bags of ochre, 12 bags
of unidentifiable bone fragments, and 2 bags of mixed dentalia and
bone.
Archeological evidence indicates that the burials at the Cottonwood
Creek site predate A.D. 1805. During consultation, a representative of
the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho indicated that the Nez Perce Tribe of
Idaho is directly related to the people who were buried at the
Cottonwood Creek site. The Cottonwood Creek site is located within the
area ceded by the Nez Perce to the United States pursuant to the Nez
Perce Treaty of June 9, 1863 (14 Stat. 647), and is located within the
area recognized by a final judgment of the Indian Claims Commission as
the aboriginal land of the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho (18 Ind. Cl. Comm.
1, 1967).
Officials of the University of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory
of Anthropology and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described
above represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native
American ancestry. Officials of the University of Idaho, Alfred W.
Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 29
objects described above are reasonably believed to have been placed
with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as
part of the death rite or ceremony. Lastly, officials of the University
of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology and Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C.
3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be
reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and
associated funerary objects and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Leah K. Evans-Janke, University of Idaho, Alfred
W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology, Moscow, ID 83844-1111, telephone
(208) 885-3733, before December 26, 2003. Repatriation of the human
remains and associated funerary objects to the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The University of Idaho, Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of
Anthropology is responsible for notifying the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho
that this notice has been published.
Dated: October 22, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-29505 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
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