[Federal Register: December 22, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 245)]
[Notices]
[Page 76776]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22de04-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, AK
AGENCY: National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is here given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to
repatriate cultural items in the possession of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, AK,
that meet the definition of ``unassociated funerary objects'' under 25
U.S.C. 3001.
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3).
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the cultural
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
The cultural items are 10 adzed planks.
In 1980, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA) and U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service,
Cooperative Park Studies Unit (CPSU) archeologists conducted a survey
of Mummy Island I, a 14 (h)(1) selection in Prince William Sound, AK.
Cultural items, along with human remains, were collected from five
areas at the site. The cultural items are 10 adzed planks. The human
remains were reinterred at the original location on October 9, 1990.
Chugach National Forest does not have physical custody or control of
human remains from the Mummy Island I site.
On October 2, 1990, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Chugach National Forest archeologists conducted an intentional
excavation at Mummy Island I in preparation for the reburial of the
human skeletal remains that were collected by BIA/CPSU in 1980.
Archeological evidence indicates that the Mummy Island I site is a
prehistoric Chugach/Sugpiaq rockshelter.
Officials of Chugach National Forest have determined that, pursuant
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 10 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 Chugach National Forest also have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that
can be reasonably traced between the unassociated funerary objects and
the Native Village of Chenega, which is represented by Chugach Alaska
Corporation.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should
contact Linda Yarborough, Forest Archeologist, Chugach National Forest,
3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907)
271[macr]2511, fax (907) 271[macr]2725, before January 21, 2005.
Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to the Chugach Alaska
Corporation on behalf of the Native Village of Chenega may proceed
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Chugach National Forest is responsible for notifying Chugach
Alaska Corporation, Chenega Corporation, Native Village of Chenega,
Tatitlek Corporation, Native Village of Tatitlek, English Bay
Corporation, Native Village of Nanwalek, Port Graham Corporation,
Native Village of Port Graham, Eyak Corporation, and Native Village of
Eyak that this notice has been published.
Dated: November 4, 2004
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 04-28002 Filed 12-21-04; 8:45 am]
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