[Federal Register: August 1, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 148)]
[Notices]
[Page 45274-45275]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01au03-97]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
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 in the possession of the
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA. The human remains were removed from Middlesex and
Worcester Counties, MA.
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
Native American human remains. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations within this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation
with officials of Nipmuc Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian
group) and Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing Wampanoag
Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a
nonfederally recognized Indian group), and Assonet Band of the
Wampanoag Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian group).
In 1878, human remains representing one individual were collected
by A.F. Aldrich from Uxbridge, Worcester County, MA, and were donated
by Mr. Aldrich to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. No
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Osteological characteristics indicate that the individual is Native
American. Museum documentation indicates that a tin box containing
cloth and a thimble were located with the human remains; these objects
date the interment to the Historic or Contact periods (post-A.D. 1500).
The objects are not in the possession of the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology and their location is unknown. Archeological,
historical, and ethnographic sources, along with consultation with
regional Native American groups, indicate that this region of
Massachusetts was the aboriginal homelands of the Nipmuc Nation during
the Historic and Contact periods.
In 1890, human remains representing one individual were collected
by Adams Tolman from Concord, Middlesex County, MA, and were donated by
Mr. Tolman to the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Osteological characteristics indicate that the individual is Native
American. The pattern of copper stains present on the human remains
indicates that they were interred sometime after European contact
(circa A.D. 1500). Archeological, historical, and ethnographic sources,
along with consultation with regional Native American groups, indicate
that during the Historic and Contact periods this area of Massachusetts
was the border region between the Nipmuc Nation and the Massachusett
people. Because there is no known present-day tribe representing the
Massachusett people, shared group identity may be reasonably traced
only to the Nipmuc Nation.
The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology has determined that
the human remains described in this notice cannot be affiliated with an
Indian tribe according to the definition of cultural affiliation at 25
U.S.C. 3001 (2), and are considered culturally unidentifiable.
According to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation
Review Committee's charter, the Review Committee is responsible for
recommending specific actions for disposition of culturally
unidentifiable human remains. In October 1998, the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology presented a disposition proposal to the
Review Committee to repatriate two culturally unidentifiable human
remains to the Nipmuc Nation. The proposal was considered by the Review
Committee at its December 1998 meeting.
The Review Committee recommended disposition of the human remains
to the Nipmuc Nation contingent upon the museum's meeting two
requirements. A January 11, 2000, letter from the National Park Service
to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology requested that the
museum publish a Notice of Inventory Completion in the Federal
Register, and that it consider documentation compiled as part of the
inventory process as public information and available for educational
and scientific uses. The two requirements will have been met with the
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
[[Page 45275]]
Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains
described above represent the physical remains of two individuals of
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology 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 Native American human remains and
the Nipmuc Nation.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Diana
Loren, Acting Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology
and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA
02138, telephone (617) 495-4125, before September 2, 2003. Repatriation
of the human remains to the Nipmuc Nation may proceed after that date
if no additional claimants come forward.
Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology is responsible for
notifying Nipmuc Nation (a nonfederally recognized Indian group) and
Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, representing Wampanoag Tribe of
Gay Head (Aquinnah), Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe (a nonfederally
recognized Indian group), and Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation (a
nonfederally recognized Indian group) that this notice has been
published.
Dated: May 29, 2003.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 03-18705 Filed 7-31-03; 8:45 am]
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