[Federal Register: September 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 182)] [Notices] [Page 51141-51142] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21se99-81] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and an Associated Funerary Object From South Dakota in the Possession of South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center, Rapid City, SD AGENCY: National Park Service. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and an associated funerary object from South Dakota in the possession of South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center, Rapid City, SD. A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center (SARC) professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. Between 1938 and 1954, human remains representing five individuals were recovered from the Mitchell Village and Mounds (39DV2) on the south bank of Firesteel Creek (now Lake Mitchell), Davison County, SD during excavations conducted by E.E. Meleen of the Smithsonian Institution, the Mitchell Lions Club, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA Project 3159); and a separate recovery in 1954 by Marvin Thome, Mitchell, SD. In 1998, four of these individuals were transferred from the W.H. Over Museum to SARC. Also in 1998, the individual recovered in 1954 was transferred from the University of Nebraska State Museum to SARC. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on manner of interment, these individuals have been identified as Native American. Based on architecture, artifact assemblage, radiocarbon dates, and ceramics from previous excavations, the Mitchell Village and Mounds have been identified as Initial Middle Missouri Tradition (900-1400 A.D.). Based on continuities of material culture, architecture, and skeletal morphology, in addition to oral tradition and historical evidence, the Mitchell Village and Mounds have been affiliated with the Mandan. During the early 1930s, human remains representing three individuals were recovered from an earthlodge cache pit in Twelve Mile Creek Village and Mounds (39HT1) on the north bank [[Page 51142]] of South Fork Twelve Mile Creek, Hutchinson County, SD during non- professional excavations conducted by F. Robinson, Dr. J.J. Krall, and H. Hall, Tyndall, SD. These individuals were donated to F.C. Kratz, director of the Olivet Museum, and were later transferred to the University of South Dakota Museum-Vermillion (now the W.H. Over Museum). In 1997, these human remains were transfered to SARC. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. In 1939, human remains representing two individuals were recovered from Twelve Mile Creek Village and Mounds (39HT1) on the north bank of South Fork Twelve Mile Creek, Hutchinson County, SD during WPA excavations conducted by E.E. Meleen, Smithsonian Institution, and W.H. Over, USD Museum. In 1998, these human remains were found in SARC collections. No known individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object is a coyote tooth. Based on the manner of interment and the associated funeary object, these individuals have been identified as Native American. Based on the architecture, material culture, radiocarbon dates, and ceramics from the 1930-1939 excavations, the Twelve Mile Village and Mounds have been dated to the Lower James Phase of the Initial Middle Missouri Tradition (900-1350 A.D.). Based on continuities of material culture, architecture, and skeletal morphology, in addition to oral tradition and historical evidence, the Twelve Mile Village and Mounds have been affiliated with the Mandan. In 1870, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes were moved to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, and are now known collectively as the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of ten individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the one object listed 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 South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and associated funerary object and the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. This notice has been sent to officials of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary object should contact Renee Boen, Curator, State Archaeological Center, South Dakota Historical Society, P.O. Box 1257, Rapid City, SD 57709-1257; telephone: (605) 394-1936, before October 21, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary object to the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: September 14, 1999. Veletta Canouts, Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program. [FR Doc. 99-24475 Filed 9-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-F