[Federal Register: September 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 182)]
[Notices]
[Page 51141-51142]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21se99-81]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and an Associated Funerary Object From South Dakota in the Possession
of South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center, Rapid City, SD
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), 43 CFR 10.9,
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and an associated
funerary object from South Dakota in the possession of South Dakota
State Archaeological Research Center, Rapid City, SD.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by South Dakota
State Archaeological Research Center (SARC) professional staff in
consultation with representatives of the Three Affiliated Tribes of
North Dakota.
Between 1938 and 1954, human remains representing five individuals
were recovered from the Mitchell Village and Mounds (39DV2) on the
south bank of Firesteel Creek (now Lake Mitchell), Davison County, SD
during excavations conducted by E.E. Meleen of the Smithsonian
Institution, the Mitchell Lions Club, and the Works Progress
Administration (WPA Project 3159); and a separate recovery in 1954 by
Marvin Thome, Mitchell, SD. In 1998, four of these individuals were
transferred from the W.H. Over Museum to SARC. Also in 1998, the
individual recovered in 1954 was transferred from the University of
Nebraska State Museum to SARC. No known individuals were identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Based on manner of interment, these individuals have been
identified as Native American. Based on architecture, artifact
assemblage, radiocarbon dates, and ceramics from previous excavations,
the Mitchell Village and Mounds have been identified as Initial Middle
Missouri Tradition (900-1400 A.D.). Based on continuities of material
culture, architecture, and skeletal morphology, in addition to oral
tradition and historical evidence, the Mitchell Village and Mounds have
been affiliated with the Mandan.
During the early 1930s, human remains representing three
individuals were recovered from an earthlodge cache pit in Twelve Mile
Creek Village and Mounds (39HT1) on the north bank
[[Page 51142]]
of South Fork Twelve Mile Creek, Hutchinson County, SD during non-
professional excavations conducted by F. Robinson, Dr. J.J. Krall, and
H. Hall, Tyndall, SD. These individuals were donated to F.C. Kratz,
director of the Olivet Museum, and were later transferred to the
University of South Dakota Museum-Vermillion (now the W.H. Over
Museum). In 1997, these human remains were transfered to SARC. No known
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
In 1939, human remains representing two individuals were recovered
from Twelve Mile Creek Village and Mounds (39HT1) on the north bank of
South Fork Twelve Mile Creek, Hutchinson County, SD during WPA
excavations conducted by E.E. Meleen, Smithsonian Institution, and W.H.
Over, USD Museum. In 1998, these human remains were found in SARC
collections. No known individuals were identified. The one associated
funerary object is a coyote tooth.
Based on the manner of interment and the associated funeary object,
these individuals have been identified as Native American. Based on the
architecture, material culture, radiocarbon dates, and ceramics from
the 1930-1939 excavations, the Twelve Mile Village and Mounds have been
dated to the Lower James Phase of the Initial Middle Missouri Tradition
(900-1350 A.D.). Based on continuities of material culture,
architecture, and skeletal morphology, in addition to oral tradition
and historical evidence, the Twelve Mile Village and Mounds have been
affiliated with the Mandan.
In 1870, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes were moved to the
Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, and are now known
collectively as the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the South
Dakota State Archaeological Research Center have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above
represent the physical remains of ten individuals of Native American
ancestry. Officials of the South Dakota State Archaeological Research
Center have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the
one object 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 South
Dakota State Archaeological Research Center 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 and associated funerary object and the Three Affiliated
Tribes of North Dakota.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Three Affiliated
Tribes of North Dakota. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains
and associated funerary object should contact Renee Boen, Curator,
State Archaeological Center, South Dakota Historical Society, P.O. Box
1257, Rapid City, SD 57709-1257; telephone: (605) 394-1936, before
October 21, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and associated
funerary object to the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota may
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: September 14, 1999.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-24475 Filed 9-20-99; 8:45 am]
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