[Federal Register: July 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 41522-41524]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jy07-71]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
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. 3005, of the intent
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA that meet
the definition of ``unassociated funerary objects'' under 25 U.S.C.
3001.
[[Page 41523]]
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 in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the cultural
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
The 39 cultural items are stone effigy pendants, glass and shell
beads, ceramic sherds, projectile points, bone fragments, metal bells,
one worked stone, one ceramic pipe, and one pipe stem fragment.
In 1872, one cultural item was recovered from an unknown location
in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and F.W. Putnam. It was
donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the
Peabody Museum Salem (now the Peabody Essex Museum) through Ernest
Dodge in 1952. The one unassociated funerary object is a stone effigy
pendant depicting a face.
In 1877, one cultural item was recovered from an unknown location
in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and donated to the
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Mr. Abbott later that
same year. The one unassociated funerary object is a stone effigy
pendant depicting a face.
In 1877, one cultural item was recovered from an unknown location
in Vincentown, Burlington County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and donated to the
Peabody Museum by Mr. Abbott later that same year. The one unassociated
funerary object is a stone effigy pendant depicting a face.
In 1877, one cultural item was likely recovered from ``Indian
burial ground'' in Vincentown, Burlington County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott
and donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Mr.
Abbott later that same year. The unassociated funerary object is a
stone effigy pendant depicting a face.
The four cultural items described above most likely date to the
Middle Woodland period or later (post-A.D. 0). Archeological evidence
suggests that face effigy pendants were used by the Delaware people
during the Middle Woodland period or later. Consultation,
archeological, and ethnographic evidence indicates that these kinds of
effigy pendants are known as Mesingw and may be symbolically associated
with the Big House Ceremony that likely developed during the Late
Woodland or Contact periods (A.D. 1000 - 1500).
In 1879, one cultural item was recovered from an unknown location
in Chester County, PA, by Isaac Kirk during a Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology expedition led by C.C. Abbott. The
unassociated funerary object is one set of glass and shell beads.
The cultural item most likely dates to the Contact period or later
(post-A.D. 1500), as glass beads were introduced by Europeans as trade
items in the post-Contact period.
In 1895, eight cultural items were recovered from the Lalor Field
site in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by Ernest Volk during a Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology expedition led by Mr. Volk. The
eight unassociated funerary objects are five lots of ceramic sherds,
two projectile points, and one ceramic pot base.
The cultural items most likely date to the Middle or Late Woodland
periods (A.D. 0 - 1500) and the decoration and/or fabric of the ceramic
sherds support this date.
In 1909, 20 cultural items were recovered from the A.K. Rowan Farm
site and ``burial place near old house'' in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ,
by Ernest Volk and R.E. Merwin during a Peabody Museum of Archaeology
and Ethnology expedition led by Mr. Volk and Mr. Merwin. The 20
unassociated funerary objects are 6 projectile points, 1 stone scraper,
1 set of glass beads, 4 lots of ceramic sherds, 2 worked bone
fragments, 3 metal bells, 1 worked stone, 1 stone effigy pendant
depicting a face, and 1 kaolin pipe stem fragment.
The cultural items most likely date to the Middle Woodland through
Contact periods (A.D. 0 - 1500). The shape of the bifacial lithics
(lancelet, small triangular) date to the Middle Woodland period (A.D. 0
- 1000). Brass and European copper objects, glass beads, and Dutch
kaolin trade pipes date to the Contact period (A.D. 1500).
Archeological evidence suggests that face effigy pendants were used by
the Delaware people during the Middle Woodland period or later.
Consultation, archeological, and ethnographic evidence indicates that
these kinds of effigy pendants are known as Mesingw and may be
symbolically associated with the Big House Ceremony that likely
developed during the Late Woodland or Contact periods (A.D. 1000 -
1500).
In 1911, two cultural items were recovered from the Riverview
Cemetery, on the south shore of the Delaware River, in Trenton, Mercer
County, NJ, by Frank Wachter. They were donated to the Peabody Museum
of Archaeology and Ethnology by Mr. Wachter through Ernest Volk in
1912. The two unassociated funerary objects are one set of glass beads
and one kaolin pipe.
The cultural items most likely date to the early Contact period or
later (post-A.D. 1500). Glass beads and kaolin pipes were introduced by
Europeans as trade items in the post-Contact period.
Between 1888 and 1917, three cultural items were recovered from the
Lalor Field site in Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and
Ernest Volk. They were donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology by Mr. Abbott at an unknown date and accessioned into the
Museum's collection in 1952. The three unassociated funerary objects
are three lots of ceramic sherds.
Between 1888 and 1917, one cultural item was recovered from
Deutzville in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, NJ, by C.C. Abbott and
Ernest Volk. It was donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology by Mr. Abbott at an unknown date and accessioned into the
Museum's collection in 1952. The unassociated funerary object is one
lot of ceramic sherds.
The four cultural items most likely date to the Middle or Late
Woodland periods (A.D. 0 - 1500), as suggested by the decoration and/or
fabric of the sherds.
Museum documentation indicates that the 39 cultural items described
above were recovered from burial contexts. The Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology is not in possession of the human remains
from these burials. Archeological evidence, museum documentation, and
oral histories indicate that the cultural items are from areas
considered to be aboriginal homelands and traditional burial areas of
the Delaware people.
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 39 cultural
items 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of
the evidence, to have been removed from specific burial sites of Native
American individuals. Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology
and Ethnology also 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 unassociated funerary objects and the
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, on behalf of the Delaware Tribe of Indians;
and Delaware Nation, Oklahoma.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should
contact Patricia Capone, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody
[[Page 41524]]
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity
Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 496-3702, before August
29, 2007. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, on behalf of the Delaware Tribe of Indians;
and Delaware Nation, Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is responsible for
notifying the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; and
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been
published.
Dated: June 27, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-14578 Filed 7-27-07; 8:45 am]
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