[Federal Register: October 9, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 195)]
[Notices]
[Page 51468-51469]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09oc01-135]

[[Page 51468]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Peabody Museum
of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given in accordance with the 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 in the possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology
and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation
with representatives of the Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut,
Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, Wabanaki Tribes of Maine
Intertribal Repatriation Committee (representing the Aroostook Band of
Micmac Indians of Maine, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians of Maine,
Indian Township Reservation of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Pleasant Point
Reservation of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Penobscot Tribe of Maine),
Wampanoag Confederation (representing the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
[Aquinnah], Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe [a nonfederally recognized
Indian group], and Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation [a nonfederally
recognized Indian group]), Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi (a nonfederally
recognized Indian group), and Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire (a
nonfederally recognized Indian group).
    The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology has determined that
the human remains reported in this notice cannot be affiliated with an
Indian tribe as defined in NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (b)(2), and are
considered culturally unidentifiable. Until final promulgation of
Section 10.11 of NAGPRA regulations, the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Review Committee is responsible for
recommending to the Secretary of the Interior specific actions for the
disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains, according to
NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.10 (g). In April 1999, the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology proposed to repatriate 30 culturally
unidentifiable human remains to the Western Abenaki, represented by the
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group,
and to the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized
Indian group. The proposal was considered by the review committee at
its May 1999 meeting.
     The review committee recommended disposition of the human remains
to the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi and the Abenaki Nation of New
Hampshire contingent upon the museum's meeting four requirements. A
February 7, 2000, letter from the National Park Service to the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology asked that the museum would
distribute the inventory of culturally unidentifiable human remains to
the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine Intertribal Repatriation Committee and the
Wampanoag Confederation; document the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine
Intertribal Repatriation Committee's and the Wampanoag Confederation's
concurrence with the proposed disposition; publish a notice of
inventory completion in the Federal Register; and consider
documentation compiled as part of the inventory process as public
information, and available for education and scientific uses. The
Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology documented in a January 11,
2001, letter to the review committee that three of the requirements had
been met, noting that the fourth requirement would be met with the
publication of this Notice of Inventory Completion. A July 11, 2001,
letter from the Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and
Partnerships confirmed that, with publication of this notice, the four
requirements of the February 7, 2000, letter will have been met.
    In 1876, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum by N. Cressy. No known individual was identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were
recovered from historic Fort Dummer, south of Brattleboro, VT.
Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, along with oral
traditions of the Western Abenaki, indicate that this portion of
Vermont is the aboriginal and historic homeland of the Western Abenaki
from at least the Late Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) through the
Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Based upon the fact that no human
remains are known from this area prior to the Late Archaic period,
these human remains are likely to date between the Late Archaic and
Historic periods. The Western Abenaki are represented today by the
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group,
and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized
Indian group.
    In 1877, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the Museum of
Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. No known individual was
identified. Although a copper bead was recovered with the remains, the
museum is not currently in possession of the bead, nor does the museum
know the bead's location.
     Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were
recovered from ``Highgate'' in Vermont, which could refer to the town,
the falls, or the archeological site, all near Lake Champlain. A copper
bead associated with the interment and the presence of copper staining
on the human remains indicate that this interment most likely dates to
the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Archeological, historical, and
ethnographic sources, along with oral traditions of the Western
Abenaki, indicate that this portion of Vermont is the aboriginal and
historic homeland of the Western Abenaki, from at least the Late
Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) through the Historic period (post-500
B.P.). The Western Abenaki are represented today by the Abenaki Nation
of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki
Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized Indian group.
    In 1897, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Dr. J. A. Keown, of
Lynn, MA. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were
recovered 2 miles from Hinsdale, NH, in 1893. Archeological,
historical, and ethnographic sources, along with oral traditions of the
Western Abenaki, indicate that this portion of New Hampshire is the
aboriginal and historic homeland of the Western Abenaki from at least
the Late Archaic period (6000-

[[Page 51469]]

4000 B.P.) through the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Based upon the
fact that no human remains are known from this area prior to the Late
Archaic period, these human remains are likely to date between the Late
Archaic and Historic periods. The Western Abenaki are represented today
by the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian
group, and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally
recognized Indian group.
     In 1901, human remains representing 19 individuals were donated to
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by A.L. Dakin. No known
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were
recovered from around the shore of Fresh Pond and Lake Musquatanakus,
in Brookline, NH. Four of the human remains were recovered by workmen
while building an ice house on the shore of Fresh Pond. The other 15
human remains were excavated from the shore of Lake Musquatanakus by
A.L. Dakin and C.C. Willoughby of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology in 1901. Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources,
along with oral traditions of the Western Abenaki, indicate that this
portion of New Hampshire is the aboriginal and historic homeland of the
Western Abenaki from at least the Late Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.)
through the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Based upon the fact that
no human remains are known from this area prior to the Late Archaic
period, these human remains are likely to date between the Late Archaic
and Historic periods. The Western Abenaki are represented today by the
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group,
and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized
Indian group.
    In 1919, human remains representing one individual were donated to
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by F.H. Manning. No
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were
recovered from Amoskeag Falls along the Merrimack River, in Manchester,
NH. Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, along with
oral traditions of the Western Abenaki, indicate that this portion of
New Hampshire is the aboriginal and historic homeland of the Western
Abenaki from at least the Late Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) through
the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). Based upon the fact that no human
remains are known from this area prior to the Late Archaic period,
these human remains are likely to date between the Late Archaic and
Historic periods. The Western Abenaki are represented today by the
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally recognized Indian group,
and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized
Indian group.
    In 1934, human remains representing six individuals were donated to
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Philip Dana Orcutt.
No known individuals were identified. Associated funerary objects are
two pieces of wood and an iron nail, but because disposition of
funerary objects associated with culturally unidentifiable human
remains is not governed by NAGPRA, associated funerary objects are not
among the cultural items included in this notice.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were
recovered from a known burial ground dating to the Historic period
(post-500 B.P.) in Effingham, NH. Osteological characteristics of the
human remains indicate that the individuals are of Native American
ancestry. The interment pattern and the presence of copper staining on
human remains indicate that the burial dates to the Historic period
(post-500 B.P.). Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources,
along with oral traditions of the Western Abenaki, indicate that this
portion of New Hampshire is the aboriginal and historic homeland of the
Western Abenaki from at least the Late Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.)
through the Historic period (post-500 B.P.). The Western Abenaki are
represented today by the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally
recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a
nonfederally recognized Indian group.
    In 1959, human remains representing one individual were permanently
loaned to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by the Warren
Anatomical Museum, Harvard University. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Museum documentation indicates that the human remains were
recovered from ``Merrimack'' in New Hampshire. It is not clear whether
this refers to the town of Merrimac, the Merrimack River, or the
greater Merrimack Valley; museum documentation implies that
``Merrimack'' refers to the river. Archeological, historical, and
ethnographic sources, along with oral traditions of the Western
Abenaki, indicate that this portion of New Hampshire is the aboriginal
and historic homeland of the Western Abenaki from at least the Late
Archaic period (6000-4000 B.P.) through the Historic period (post-500
B.P.). Based upon the fact that no human remains are known from this
area prior to the Late Archaic period, these human remains are likely
to date between the Late Archaic and Historic periods. The Western
Abenaki are represented today by the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a
nonfederally recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki Nation of New
Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized Indian group.
     Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the
physical remains of 30 individuals of Native American ancestry.
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between these
Native American human remains and the Western Abenaki, who are
represented by the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a nonfederally
recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire, a
nonfederally recognized Indian group.
    This notice has been sent to the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, a
nonfederally recognized Indian group, and the Abenaki Nation of New
Hampshire, a nonfederally recognized Indian group. Representatives of
any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with these human remains should contact Patricia Capone, Repatriation
Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 11 Divinity
Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 496-3702, before November
8, 2001. Repatriation of the human remains to the Abenaki Nation of
Missisquoi and the Abenaki Nation of New Hampshire may begin after that
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: August 3, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-25154 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-S