Federal Register / Vol. 60 No. 31 / February 15, 1995 /
Notices Page 8732
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession of
The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior
ACTION: Notice
__________________________________________________________________
Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act of 1990 of the intent to repatriate cultural
items in the possession of The Field Museum of Natural History,
Chicago, IL, that meet the definition of "object of cultural
patrimony" under section 2 of the act.
The Little Elk Standing Village Bundle (FM# 71860-7187) consists
of a hide bundle wrapper with pipe stem and arrows; paint bag; two
scalp locks; three bundles of braided sweetgrass; sinew; two goose
necks; swan neck; loon neck; shell; black pipe and stem; ear of
corn; pierced elkhorn scraper; and penis bone. The bundle was
purchased for the Field Museum by Assistant Curator James Murie in
1902 and identified as Pawnee.
The Big Black Meteoritic Bundle (FM# 71898) consists of a hide
bundle wrapper; war club; two pipe stems; pipe and stem; two
curved bones; pipe tamper; wooden pole for storing a star chart,
including a metal disc, bag and skin container; start chart; three
arrow shafts; three birds wrapped in skin; two scalp locks; small
mammal skin; legging fragments; bird leg with talon; two feathers;
stuffed hawk; two mammal skins; leather pouch; two bundles of
braided sweetgrass; piece of leather bound with leather thong; two
pouches; bag; piece of string; ear of corn; two birds in pouches;
thong for tying bundle; owl skin; rope, and weasel skin. The
bundle was purchased for The Field Museum by Assistant Curator
James Murie in 1906 and identified as Pawnee.
Authorized representatives of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma have
been provided with copies of the museum records and have viewed
the bundles in person. Representatives of the Pawnee Tribe of
Oklahoma identify the bundles as two of the twelve major sacred
bundles of the Pawnee, all of which have ongoing importance
central to the Pawnee tribe as a whole and which could not have
been alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by any individual. The
Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Business Council requested repatriation
of the bundles in a letter dated April 18, 1994.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of The Field
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 the two bundles and the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.
Officials of The Field Museum have also determined that the two
bundles meet the definition of object of cultural patrimony
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C).
Authorities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have
been contacted regarding applicability of Federal endangered
species statutes to this transfer and have concurred in the
conclusion that the object is not covered due to its age.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Pawnee Tribe of
Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes
itself to be culturally affiliated with this object should contact
Jonathan Haas, MacArthur Curator of North American Anthropology,
The Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore
Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone: (312) 922-9410, extension
641, before March 17, 1995. Repatriation of the two bundles to
the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma can begin after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
Dated: February 9, 1995
Francis P. MacManamon
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 95-3685; Filed 02/14/95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
Back to the top
Back to National-NAGPRA