[Federal Register: October 2, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 191)]
[Notices]
[Page 58794]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02oc00-121]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession
of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol,
RI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate
cultural items in the possession of the Haffenreffer Museum of
Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol, RI that meet the definition of
``unassociated funerary object'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    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
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations within this notice.
    The 180 cultural items consist of beads, lithic arrowheads,
bottles, spoons, other metal objects and fragments, mat and blanket
fragments, a pipe, and pipe fragments.
    Around 1918, Rudolf Haffenreffer began collecting Burr's Hill human
remains and objects by purchase from local collectors and by exchange
with the Museum of the American Indian (Heye Foundation).
    Burr's Hill is believed to be located on the southern border of
Sowams, a Wampanoag village. Sowams is identified in historic documents
of the 17th and 18th centuries as a Wampanoag village, and was ceded to
the English in 1653 by Massasoit and his eldest son Wamsutta
(Alexander). Based the presence of European trade goods and types of
cultural items, these cultural items have been dated to between A.D.
1600-1710. Based on accession records and condition of the cultural
items, these cultural items have been determined to be grave goods.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the
Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2)(ii), these 180 cultural items 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 and
are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed
from a specific burial site of a Native American individual. Officials
of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology also have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group
identity that can be reasonably traced between these items and the
Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe
of Gay Head (Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag (a non-Federally
recognized Indian group), and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation
(a non-Federally recognized Indian group). This notice has been sent to
officials of the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing the
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, the Mashpee Wampanoag (a non-Federally
recognized Indian group), and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation
(a non-Federally recognized Indian group), the Narragansett Indian
Tribe of Rhode Island, and the Council of Seven/Royal House of
Pokanoket/Pokanoket Tribe/Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally recognized
Indian group). Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes
itself to be culturally affiliated with these unassociated funerary
objects should contact Thierry Gentis, NAGPRA Coordinator, Haffenreffer
Museum of Anthropology, Mount Hope Grant, Bristol, RI 02805, telephone
(401) 253-8388, facsimile (401) 253-1198, before November 1, 2000.
Repatriation of these unassociated funerary objects to the Wampanoag
Repatriation Confederation, representing the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay
Head, the Mashpee Wampanoag (a non-Federally recognized Indian group),
and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a non-Federally
recognized Indian group) may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.

    Dated: September 21, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-25128 Filed 9-29-00; 8:45 am]
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