[Federal Register: October 5, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 194)]
[Notices]
[Page 51066-51067]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05oc01-125]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession
of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR
10.10(a)(3), of the intent to repatriate a cultural item in the
possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA, that meets 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 this
cultural item. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the cultural item was made by the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation
with representatives of the Cayuga Nation of New York; Delaware Tribe
of Indians, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Oneida Nation of New
York; Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation of New York; St. Regis
Band of Mohawk Indians of New York; Seneca Nation of New York; Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican
Indians of Wisconsin; Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York;
Tuscarora Nation of New York; and the nonfederally recognized Mohawk
Nation Council of Chiefs.
    The one cultural item is a brass finger ring.
    Around 1880, the brass finger ring was donated to the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by Alexander Howell. The object was
excavated near Canandaigua, Ontario County, NY.
    According to museum documentation, the ring was recovered from a
grave near Canandaigua. No additional provenience information is
available, but it is believed that the grave was that of a Native
American individual. Because this ring is brass, and brass was only
introduced with European trade, the ring can be dated to the Contact or
Historic period (post-A.D. 1500). Historic sources and consultation
information indicate that Canandaigua was part of the Seneca territory
during the Contact and Historic periods. The Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology does not have possession of the human remains
from this burial.
    Based upon the above-mentioned information, officials of the
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2)(ii), this cultural item is 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 is
believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from
a specific burial site of a Native American individual. Officials of
the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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 this unassociated
funerary object and the Seneca Nation of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe
of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cayuga Nation of New
York; Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma;
Oneida Nation of New York; Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation
of New York; St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York; Seneca
Nation of New York; Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; Stockbridge-Munsee
Community of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin; Tonawanda Band of Seneca
Indians of New York; Tuscarora Nation of New York; and the nonfederally
recognized Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs. Representatives of any
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with this unassociated funerary object should contact Patricia Capone,
Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of

[[Page 51067]]

Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue,
Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 496-3702, before November 5, 2001.
Repatriation of this unassociated funerary object to the Seneca Nation
of New York, Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of
Seneca Indians of New York may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.

    Dated: July 3, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-24967 Filed 10-4-01 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F