[Federal Register: April 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 81)]
[Notices]
[Page 24501]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ap00-95]

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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 Arkansas in the Possession of the
Arkansas Archeological Survey, Fayetteville, AR

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 associated
funerary objects from Arkansas in the possession of the Arkansas
Archeological Survey, Fayetteville, AR.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Arkansas
Archeological Survey professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    During 1991-1997, human remains representing 39 individuals were
recovered from Parkin State Park during excavations conducted by the
Arkansas Archeological Survey in cooperation with the Quapaw Tribe of
Indians, Oklahoma under a Memorandum of Agreement. No known individuals
were identified. The 36 associated funerary objects include an Old Town
red human head effigy vessel, Mississippian ceramics and sherds, mussel
shells and fragments, unidentified animal bones and fragments, charred
maize cobs, fossil and bone beads, a debitage flake, chert blade and
scraper, marine shell fragments, a hemitite fragment, and a projectile
point.
    Based on French colonial records, the Quapaw were known to be the
only tribe present in the St. Francis River valley area near the mouth
of the Arkansas River c. 1700 A.D. Although no definite Quapaw villages
have been identified in the St. Francis River valley where the Parkin
site is located, the Quapaw tribe may have used that area as an
important hunting territory. Oral history evidence presented by
representatives of the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma indicates a
migration from the north to their location near the mouth of the
Arkansas River.
    The Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma has maintained a strong
interest in the Parkin site. The Quapaw Tribe entered into an agreement
with the State of Arkansas when the site was acquired for an
archeological park to help coordinate research and development at the
park.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Arkansas
Archeological Survey have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR
10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical
remains of 39 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the
Arkansas Archeological Survey have also determined that, pursuant to 43
CFR 10.2(d)(2), the 36 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 Arkansas Archeological Survey 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 objects and the Quapaw Tribe of Indians,
Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Quapaw Tribe of
Indians, Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains
and associated funerary objects should contact Paddy Murphy, Director,
Historic Resources and Museum Services, Arkansas State Parks, One
Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201; telephone: (501) 682-3603, before
May 26, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects to the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma may begin after that
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: April 10, 2000.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 00-10316 Filed 4-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M

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