[Federal Register: January 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 10)]
[Notices]
[Page 2526-2527]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja08-97]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Slater Museum of Natural History,
University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
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 Slater Museum of Natural History,
University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA. The human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from Pierce County, WA.
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 Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Slater
Museum of Natural History, University of Puget Sound professional staff
and a consultant in consultation with representatives of the
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington;
Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, Washington;
Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington; and Squaxin
Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation, Washington.
In 1956, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from Connell's Prairie, near Buckley in Pierce County, WA,
by John Bonifas and LaMar Hathaway while digging fence post holes. The
human remains were donated by the Pierce County Sherriff to the museum
in 1956. No known individual was identified. The two associated
funerary objects are one bead and one silver ball.
The human remains were reviewed and determined to be Native
American based upon cranial deformation and tooth wear. The red glass
seed bead was found in the sediments with the human remains, whereas
the metal ball was found with the human remains during a museum
inventory, but not recorded as found with the human remains at the time
of removal. However, both objects are determined to be associated
funerary objects. The Pierce County Sherriff's report states the human
remains were discovered approximately two feet below the surface.
Archeological evidence supports the presence of Osceola mudflows at a
depth of two feet across the prairie that occurred approximately 5,000
years ago, suggesting the human remains could be approximately 5,000
years old. However, due to the presence of the glass seed bead, the
human remains most likely date to the 1800s, at which time glass trade
beads would have been available at nearby locations such as Fort
Steilacoom.
Connell's Prairie is located west of Naches Pass, a historic pass
connecting
[[Page 2527]]
Puget Sound's Fort Steilacoom and eastern Washington where a wagon road
was built in 1853 which originated at Fort Steilacoom and moved east
across Connell's Prairie to Naches Pass. Archeological evidence
suggests the prairie was used by both western and eastern Washington
Native American groups who traveled along the trails and roads through
the prairie between Puget Sound and eastern Washington. In addition,
there is a recorded ethnographic village to the south of Connell's
Prairie, which is associated with both the Muckleshoot and Puyallup
Tribes. The Indian Claims Commission determined Connell's Prairie to be
outside the exclusive treaty-time territory of any Native American
tribe. Connell's Prairie was also the site of several events during the
1855-1856 Treaty Wars between various Native American groups and the
U.S. Government. Native American participants in these wars include
members of the present-day Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot
Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually
Reservation, Washington; and Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup
Reservation, Washington. Based on physical anthropological evidence,
historic documentation, and associated funerary objects, the human
remains are reasonably believed to be Native American and have a shared
group relationship with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot
Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the Nisqually
Reservation, Washington; and[sol]or Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup
Reservation, Washington.
Officials of the Slater Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
Officials of the Slater Museum also have determined that, pursuant to
25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the two 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 Slater Museum 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 Muckleshoot Indian Tribe of the
Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington; Nisqually Indian Tribe of the
Nisqually Reservation, Washington; and Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup
Reservation, Washington.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Peter Wimberger, Director, Slater Museum of
Natural History, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner, Tacoma, WA
98416, telephone (253) 879-2784, before February 14, 2008. Repatriation
of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Muckleshoot
Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington; Nisqually
Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, Washington; and Puyallup
Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington may proceed after that
date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Slater Museum is responsible for notifying the Muckleshoot
Indian Tribe of the Muckleshoot Reservation, Washington; Nisqually
Indian Tribe of the Nisqually Reservation, Washington; Puyallup Tribe
of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington; and Squaxin Island Tribe of
the Squaxin Island Reservation, Washington that this notice has been
published.
Dated: December 7, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-560 Filed 1-14-08; 8:45 am]
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