FR Doc 07-4263
[Federal Register: August 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 168)]
[Notices]
[Page 50118]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30au07-50]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Safety Harbor Museum of Regional
History, Safety Harbor, FL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects in the control of Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History,
Safety Harbor, FL. The human remains were removed from Pasco County,
FL.
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 Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Safety
Harbor Museum of Regional History professional staff in consultation
with representatives of Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida;
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big
Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations).
In 1925, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were removed from a farm near Elfers, Pasco County, FL, by a private
land owner. The daughter of the land owner donated the human remains to
an unnamed museum in Oldsmar, FL. Subsequently, the human remains were
delivered by that museum to the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional
History. In 2003, the human remains were found in the Safety Harbor
Museum of Regional History's collection. Eight pottery sherds found
with the human remains are reasonably believed to be associated
funerary objects. No known individual was identified.
Museum records indicate that the human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from ``Indian Mound - Feb. 7, 1925,
Elfers, Fla.'' Based on dental morphology, the human remains are
believed to be Native American. The associated funerary objects date to
the Weeden Island Period (A.D. 200 - 900). The Tocobaga tribe inhabited
the central Florida region during the Weeden Island Period. Although
most of the Tocobaga perished within 200 years after the arrival of the
Spanish explorers in the early part of the 16th century, it is
reasonably believed that those that did survive assimilated into what
became known as the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes. Historical and
archeological evidence establish that Seminole and Miccosukee people
have been residents in central and southern Florida for several hundred
years. The Seminole and Miccosukee are represented today by the
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma;
and Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood
& Tampa Reservations).
Officials of the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains
described above represent the physical remains of one individual of
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Safety Harbor Museum of
Regional History also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001
(3)(A), the eight objects described above 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. Lastly, officials
of the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History 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 Native American
human remains and associated funerary objects and the Miccosukee Tribe
of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe
of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa
Reservations).
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Walter
Bowman, Assistant Office Manager, Safety Harbor Museum of Regional
History, 329 Bayshore Blvd. South, Safety Harbor, FL 34695, telephone
(727) 726-1668, before October 1, 2007. Repatriation of the human
remains and associated funerary objects to the Miccosukee Tribe of
Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of
Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations)
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History is responsible for
notifying Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of
Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton,
Hollywood & Tampa Reservations) that this notice has been published.
Dated: August 8, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 07-4263 Filed 8-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S
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