FR Doc 03-30565
[Federal Register: December 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 237)]
[Notices]
[Page 68953]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10de03-117]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Washington State
University, Museum of Anthropology, Pullman, WA
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), 43 CFR 10.8 (f), of the
intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Washington
State University, Museum of Anthropology, Pullman, WA, 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 within 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 within this notice.
In 1972, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals
were removed from the Asotin cemetery site (45-AS-9), Asotin County,
WA, during archeological excavations under the direction of Roderick
Sprague of the University of Idaho. The human remains were reburied by
the University of Idaho and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho shortly after
they were excavated. Funerary objects found with the human remains were
retained by Dr. Sprague until they were accessioned by the Washington
State University, Museum of Anthropology in 1997 and 2000. The 168
unassociated funerary objects are 1 projectile point, 1 stone flake, 1
bear claw, 1 pestle in 2 pieces, 1 lot (0.2 g) of olivella shell bead
fragments, 134 dentalia shell beads, 1 lot (2.5 g) of nonhuman bone
fragments, 6 whole shell pendants, 11 shell pendant fragments, 1 antler
fragment, 1 bone whistle, 1 lot (1.1 g) of bark fragments, 1 lot (324.1
g) of wood fragments, 5 pieces of polished nonhuman bone, 1 lot (18 g)
of plant remains, and 1 lot (33.6 g) of matting fragments.
Burial patterns and artifacts found at the site indicate that the
burials removed from the Asotin cemetery site originally were interred
between A.D. 1000 and the mid-19th century. Oral tradition and
historical evidence indicate that the cemetery was used by two Nez
Perce bands that inhabited the villages of Hasotino and Hesweiwewipu.
Descendants of these two bands are known to be members of the
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington and Nez
Perce Tribe of Idaho. The Asotin cemetery site is located within the
area reserved by the Nez Perce under the Treaty of 1855, but was
deleted from tribal lands in the Treaty of 1863. The Indian Claims
Commission determined that the area in which the Asotin cemetery site
is located has been occupied exclusively by the Nez Perce at least
since the mid-19th century.
Officials of the Washington State University, Museum of
Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B),
the 168 cultural items 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 a 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
Washington State University, Museum of Anthropology 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 Confederated Tribes
of the Colville Reservation, Washington and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should
contact Mary Collins, Associate Director, Museum of Anthropology,
Washington State University, P.O. Box 62291, Pullman, WA 99164-4910,
telephone (509) 335-4314, before January 9, 2004. Repatriation of the
unassociated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, Washington and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho may
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Washington State University, Museum of Anthropology is
responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington and Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho that this notice
has been published.
Dated: November 5, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-30565 Filed 12-9-03; 8:45 am]
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