[Federal Register: September 15, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 178)]
[Notices]
[Page 48303-48304]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se97-104]

[[Page 48303]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects from the Illinois counties of La Salle,
Madison, Perry, and Randolph in the Possession of the Anthropology
Section, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C.
3003 (d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and
associated funerary objects from the Illinois counties of La Salle,
Madison, Perry, and Randolph in the Possession of the Anthropology
Section, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Illinois
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of
the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Ho-Chunk Nation,
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri, Sac & Fox
Nation of Oklahoma, Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa,
Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas, Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, Forest County
Potawatomi Community, Hannahville Indian Community, Pokagon Band of
Potawatomi Indians, and Prairie Band of Potawatomi Indians of Kansas.
    In 1972, human remains representing eight individuals were
recovered at Fort de Chartres III (11R127), Randolph County, during
archeological excavations conducted by Dr. Margaret Kimball Brown to
develop more accurate reconstructions and interpretive programming at
this state park. No known individuals were identified. The 9,834
associated funerary objects include one embossed silver arm band, 33
silver brooches, three silver crosses, 80 iron tinkling cones, one iron
spear point, three brass bells, three brass necklaces, four copper
rings, one bone-handled case knife, and 9,585 glass seed beads.
    The Fort de Chartres III site is the last of a historically well-
documented series of forts established as the seat of French military
and civil power in Illinois from 1719 until the final fort was handed
over to the British in 1765. This third construction consisted of a
substantial stone fortress dating from the mid-1750s. Historical and
archeological evidence clearly indicate this fort was also a center of
Native American activity. Two contemporary Michigamea villages (Kolmer
and Waterman sites) have been documented near this fort. Based on
dentition, cranial characteristics, and the associated funerary
objects, these individuals have been determined to be Native American.
Based on the location of the burials within the fort itself and the
European trade goods present, these individuals were likely interred
after the British abandonment of the fort in 1772 and prior to 1832,
when the remaining tribes in Illinois were removed across the
Mississippi River. The Michigamea were members of the Illini
confederacy, along with the Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Moingwena, Peoria, and
Tamaroa. The present day descendant of the Illini confederacy is the
Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In 1952, human remains representing one individual were recovered
from the Guebert site (11R1), Randolph County, during joint
archeological excavations by the Illinois State Museum and Southern
Illinois University. No known individual was identified. The four
associated funerary objects include one lead cross, two fragments of
brass or copper, and one fragment of a German silver trigger guard.
    The Guebert site is an historic village site known in French
documents as ``Indian Kaskaskia'' which was occupied between 1719 and
about 1765 by Kaskaskia, Michigamea, and Tamaroa people of the Illini
confederacy. Based on site context, cranial chartacteristics and the
associated funerary objects, this individual has been determined to be
Native American and most likely affiliated with the Illini confederacy.
The present day descendant of the Illini confederacy is the Peoria
Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In 1948, human remains representing one individual were recovered
from Feature 5 at the Hotel Plaza site (11LS61), La Salle County,
during joint archeological excavations by the Illinois State Museum and
the University of Chicago. No known individual was identified. The
three associated funerary objects include one chert hammerstone, one
sandstone abrader, and one La Salle Filleted pottery sherd.
    The Hotel Plaza site, located on a floodplain of the Illinois River
adjacent to Starved Rock, contains mixed precontact occupations
(Archaic and Woodland periods) and features dating into the historic
period. Based on cranial characteristics and the associated funerary
objects, this individual has been identified as Native American.
Feature 5 at the Hotel Plaza site has been identified as an historic
feature based on the presence of La Salle Filleted pottery (a
postcontact ceramic style) and the location of this burial overlaying
and therefore postdating another feature containing historic artifacts.
At various times during the late 1600s and early 1700s, this section of
the Illinois River valley was occupied by tribes including the
Kaskaskia and other Illini groups, the Kickapoo, the Miami, the
Missouri, the Piankeshaw, the Shawnee, and the Wea. Historical
documents indicate the Peoria occupied Hotel Plaza and Starved Rock
from about 1711 to 1720, the most likely date range for this burial and
therefore likely affiliated with the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In 1993, human remains representing one individual were recovered
from the Jamestown site (SIUC 21C4-14), Perry County, during salvage
excavations related to the Burning Star #4 surface mine. No known
individual was identified. The 65 associated funerary objects include a
French brass kettle, a woven mat of native fibers, a French butcher
knife, one silver brooch, one brass or copper C-shaped wire bracelet,
and two sets of white-tailed deer ribs.
    Although the Jamestown site has been identified as a Late Woodland
occupation site dating between 450-1000 A.D. based on site
organization, radiocarbon dates, material culture, and feature
morphology, this burial dates from the early to middle eighteenth
century based on the grave construction and associated funerary
objects. Based on the associated funerary objects, this individual is
Native Amerian and may have been contemporary with the Illini
occupations of the Guebert and Kolmer sites, and is likely to be
Kaskaskia or Michigamea. The Kaskaskia and Michigamea were members of
the Illini confederacy whose present day descendant is the Peoria Tribe
of Oklahoma.
    Between 1969-1972, human remains representing thirteen individuals
were recovered from the River L'Abbe Mission site (11MS2), Madison
County, during excavations conducted by Melvin L. Fowler and Elizabeth
D. Benchley of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Charles J.
Bareis of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. No known
individuals were identified. The 6,996 associated funerary objects
include one molded lead cross, eight molded lead brooches, eight brass
tinkling cones, one brass hawk-bell, one brass Liberty-type bell, iron
hardware from a burial chest used as a coffin, two iron clasp-knife
blades, five catlinite triangular pendants, 28 marine shell triangular
beads, two glass triangular pendants, and 6,723 glass beads.

[[Page 48304]]

    The River L'Abbe Mission site is located on the first terrace of
Monks Mound, a large Mississippian temple mound on the Mississippi
River floodplain. This occupation was a French colonial mission and an
adjoining Cahokia village established in 1735 and abandoned in 1752
after the Cahokia village was attacked by Sauk, Fox, Kickapoo, and
Sioux war parties. Based on site context and the associated funerary
objects, these individuals are Native American and affiliated with the
1735-1752 Cahokia village occupation. The Cahokia were members of the
Illini confederacy whose present day descendant is the Peoria Tribe of
Oklahoma.
    Between 1947-1950 and in 1980, human remains representing sixteen
individuals were recovered from the Starved Rock site (11LS12), La
Salle County, by archeologists of the Illinois State Museum, University
of Chicago, Illinois Department of Conservation and Illinois State
University. No known individuals were identified. The 2,633 associated
funerary objects include twelve brass Jesuit rings, one brass bead,
twelve brass tinkling cones, one brass neck circlet, four brass
bracelets, two copper coils, one iron knife blade, one gunflint, and
2,491 glass beads.
    Starved Rock is a prominent landmark on the south bank of the
Illinois River occupied for thousands of years by Native Americans.
Historical documents indicate Starved Rock was the site of a French
fort (1673-1692) and the site of a Peoria occupation (1711-1720). Based
on dentition, cranial characteristics, and associated funerary objects,
these individuals have been determined to be Native American and are
likely to have been Kaskaskia, Peoria, or another of the tribes of the
Illini confederacy. The present day descendant of the Illini
confederacy is the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In 1971, human remains representing 59 individuals were recovered
from the Waterman site (11RI122), Randolph County, during excavations
conducted by Margaret Kimball Brown of Michigan State University under
a grant from the Illinois Department of Conservation. No known
individuals were identified. The 13,113 associated funerary objects
include six silver bracelets, two silver crosses, two silver gorgets,
three silver rings, 28 copper tinkling cones, 26 copper beads, twelve
brass bells, one brass cross, one brass bracelet, one faience hair
pendant, two Micmac pipe bowls, one kaolin pipe bowl, one mirror, two
brandy bottles, 12,705 glass beads, and a small French pistol which
dates to the early 1700s.
    The Waterman site is a historically documented Michigamea village
established in 1753 after the destruction of the Michigamea village at
the Kolmer site in 1752 in an attack by the Sauk, Fox, Kickapoo, and
Sioux. The Waterman village site was abandoned in 1765 when the British
took control of Fort de Chartres. Based on dentition, cranial
characteristics, and the associated funerary objects, these individuals
have been determined to be Native American; and are likely affiliated
with the 1753-1765 Michigamea village. The Michigamea were members of
the Illini confederacy whose present day descendant is the Peoria Tribe
of Oklahoma.
    In 1947, 1992, and 1995, human remains representing 21 individuals
were recovered from the Zimmerman site (11LS13), located at the Grand
Village of the Illinois State Historic Site, La Salle County, during
excavations conducted by the University of Chicago, the Illinois State
Museum, and Archaeological Consultants of Normal, IL. No known
individuals were identified. The 173 associated funerary objects
include three brass tubular beads, twelve brass coiled-wire hair
ornaments, one Danner Grooved Paddle pottery vessel, and 92 glass
beads.
    The Zimmerman site is a multicomponent pre- and postcontact village
site located on the north bank of the Illinois river opposite Starved
Rock. Based on dentition, cranial characteristics, and the associated
funerary objects, these individuals have been determined to be Native
American. The postcontact component is believed to be the ``Grand
Village of the Kaskaskia'' noted in French historic documents and maps
beginning in 1673. The principal inhabitants of the village during the
late 1600s and early 1700s were the Kaskaskia, Peoria, and other
members of the Illini confederacy. The Illini confederacy's present day
descendant is the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Illinois
State Museum have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the
human remains listed above represent the physical remains of 120
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Illinois
State Museum have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001
(3)(A), the 32,821 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. Lastly, officials of
the Illinois State Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C.
3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and
associated funerary objects and the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Peoria Tribe of
Oklahoma, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Ho-Chunk Nation, Winnebago Tribe of
Nebraska, Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri, Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma,
Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas,
Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, Forest County Potawatomi Community,
Hannahville Indian Community, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, and
Prairie Band of Potawatomi Indians of Kansas. Representatives of any
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact
Dr. Robert E. Warren, Associate Curator of Anthropology, Illinois State
Museum, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703; telephone: (217)
524-7903, before [thirty days after publication in the Federal
Register]. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects to the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma may begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
Dated: September 10, 1997.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-24375 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F

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