[Federal Register: December 17, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 242)] [Notices] [Page 69649-69650] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr17de98-94] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains, Associated Funerary Objects, and Unassociated Funerary Objects from Wisconsin in the Possession of the Neville Public Museum of Brown County, Green Bay, WI AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior ACTION: Notice ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects from Wisconsin in the possession of the Neville Public Museum of Brown County, Green Bay, WI. A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Neville Public Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. In 1940, human remains representing five individuals were recovered from Allouez, WI during road construction on the corner of S. Jackson and Derby Lane. Between 1940 and 1941, these human remains were donated to the Neville [[Page 69650]] Public Museum by Alex Gauthier and W.C. McClendon. No known individuals were identified. The seven associated funerary objects include one iron sickle blade, one iron 10-d nail section, one iron spike, two pieces of burned sandstone, and two non-human large mammal bones. Based on the associated funerary objects and the apparent age of the burials, these individuals have been identified as Native American from the Late Historic period. During the Late Historic period, the area of Allouez, WI was occupied primarily by the Menominee Indian Tribe. In 1941, human remains representing 22 individuals were recovered from the Gibson Rock Shelter, Brown County, WI by R.L. Hall, W. Wittry, and A. Linck. No accession records exist for these human remains, but they are believed to have been donated by R.L. Hall, W. Wittry, and A. Linck. No known individual were identified. The minimum of 16 associated funerary objects include one antler point, one beveled bone knife, a shell bead, turtle plastron ``plaque'', non-human bones, one beaver incisor, one snail shell, one stick, and grit-tempered sherds, some of which form two Aztalan Collared vessels. Based on the associated funerary objects and apparent age of the burials, these individuals have been determined to be Native American. Based on the ceramic types, these burials are estimated to date to the Woodland period. Based on continuities of ceramics and occupation, some archeologists believe the ceramics are associated with ancestors of the Menominee. Although other archeologists believe the ceramics could be associated with the Ho-Chunk, the museum feels the evidence indicates a primarily Menominee cultural affiliation. In 1950, human remains representing 12 individuals were recovered from the Charles Grignon House, operated by the Outagamie County Historical Society, Outagamie County, WI during excavations. In 1953, these human remains were donated to the Neville Public Museum by William Wolf, then-curator of the Charles Grignon House. No known individuals were identified. The associated funerary objects were not donated to the Neville Public Museum. The Neville Public Museum feels that those objects and additional human remains are the responsibility of the Outagamie County Historical Society and will not attempt re- constituting the collection for the purpose of repatriation. Based on analysis of the associated funerary objects, these individuals have been determined to be Native American from the Late Historic period. Historic documents (Bishop Kemper's 1834 tour) further establish an active Menominee cemetery at or very near this site. In 1980, human remains representing two individuals were recovered from an embankment in Green Bay, WI and donated to the Neville Public Museum by the City of Green Bay Police Department. No known individuals were identified. The 604 associated funerary objects include glass beads and small mammal bones. Based on the associated funerary objects and apparent age of the burials, these individuals have been determined to be Native American. Further, the presence of black seed beads suggests a Late Historic period date for the burials. During the Late Historic period, the area of Green Bay, WI was occupied primarily by the Menominee Indian Tribe. The 30 cultural items consist of a stone pipe bowl, six faceted (cut) blue beads, three dark red beads, four Madison points, two humpbacked knives, one side-notched point, one bifurcate-base point, 12 faceted (cut) blue beads, and a string of tiny white and dark red beads. In 1923, Mr. Lisle Perizak donated the 12 faceted (cut) blue beads and the string of tiny white and dark red beads to the Neville Public Museum. In 1925 and 1935, Mr. J.P. Schumacher sold the remainder of the cultural items listed above to the Neville Public Museum. Museum records state that these 30 cultural items were all removed from burials in a mound in Green Bay, WI. Archeological records indicate that historic Menominee burials were located in this mound. The objects are being affiliated with the Menominee Tribe as they were all removed from a mound with historic Menominee burials. Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Neville Public Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of 31 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Neville Public Museum have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 627 objects listed 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. Officials of the Neville Public Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2)(ii), these 30 cultural items 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 a specific burial site of an Native American individual. Lastly, officials of the Neville Public Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains, associated funerary objects, and unassociated funerary objects and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. This notice has been sent to officials of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Ann Koski, Director, Neville Public Museum of Brown County, 210 Museum Place, Green Bay, WI 54303; telephone: (920) 448-4460, before January 19, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Menominee Indian Tribe may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: December 8, 1998. Veletta Canouts, Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program. [FR Doc. 98-33447 Filed 12-16-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-F