Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, WA, and Museum of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, and Nez Perce National Historical Park, Spaulding Visitor Center, Spaulding, ID, 24755-24757 [E6-6260]
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<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 26, 2006 / Notices
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of
the Cheyenne River Reservation, South
Dakota; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the
Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota;
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Lower Sioux
Indian Community in the State of
Minnesota; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of
the Northern Cheyenne Indian
Reservation, Montana; Oglala Sioux
Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation,
South Dakota; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska;
Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians,
Oklahoma; Prairie Island Indian
Community in the State of Minnesota;
Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud
Indian Reservation, South Dakota; Sac &
Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa;
Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska;
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake
Traverse Reservation, South Dakota;
Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort
Berthold Reservation, North Dakota;
Upper Sioux Indian Community,
Minnesota; Yankton Sioux Tribe of
South Dakota; and themselves, may
proceed after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
The Archaeological Research Center is
responsible for notifying the Cheyenne
River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River
Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Creek
Sioux Tribe of the Crow Creek
Reservation, South Dakota; Flandreau
Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota;
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Lower Sioux
Indian Community in the State of
Minnesota; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of
the Northern Cheyenne Indian
Reservation, Montana; Oglala Sioux
Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation,
South Dakota; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska;
Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians,
Oklahoma; Prairie Island Indian
Community in the State of Minnesota;
Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud
Indian Reservation, South Dakota; Sac &
Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa;
Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska;
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake
Traverse Reservation, South Dakota;
Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort
Berthold Reservation, North Dakota;
Upper Sioux Indian Community,
Minnesota; and Yankton Sioux Tribe of
South Dakota that this notice has been
published.
Dated: April 11, 2006.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6–6259 Filed 4–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–50–S
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S.
Department of Defense, Army Corps of
Engineers, Walla Walla District, Walla
Walla, WA, and Museum of
Anthropology, Washington State
University, Pullman, WA, and Nez
Perce National Historical Park,
Spaulding Visitor Center, Spaulding, ID
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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 the U.S. Department of
Defense, Army Corps of Engineers,
Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, WA,
and in the possession of the Museum of
Anthropology, Washington State
University, Pullman, WA, and Nez
Perce National Historical Park,
Spaulding Visitor Center, Spaulding, ID.
The human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from the
´
Paluus (Palus) Cemetery in Franklin
County, WA.
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 the Army Corps
of Engineers St. Louis District
Mandatory Center of Expertise for the
Curation and Management of
Archaeological Collections professional
staff and a detailed assessment of the
associated funerary items was made by
Museum of Anthropology, Washington
State University professional staff in
consultation with lineal descendants
and representatives of the Confederated
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation,
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation, Oregon; Nez Perce
Tribe, Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a
non-federally recognized Indian group.
In 1964, human remains representing
a minimum of 260 individuals were
´
removed from the Paluus (Palus)
Cemetery (45FR36B), Franklin County,
WA, by Washington State University
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24755
professional staff, under the direction of
the Army Corps of Engineers, Walla
Walla District. The excavation was
undertaken to relocate the cemetery
before flooding by the backwaters of
dam construction. In March 1965,
human remains representing an
unknown number of individuals were
re-interred on a hill overlooking the
original burial site. The remainder of the
human remains and associated funerary
objects were housed at the University of
Idaho, Moscow, ID, and Museum of
Anthropology, Washington State
University, Pullman, WA. In 2000, the
human remains and associated funerary
items at the University of Idaho were
transferred to Washington State
University. In 1995 and 2005, detailed
assessments were done that determined
human remains from the Palus
Cemetery representing a minimum of 94
individuals are present in the extant
collection. There are four known
individuals identified. The four known
individuals are Mrs. Helen Fisher, Chief
Old Bones, and two other members of
the Old Bones family. The remaining 90
individuals are unidentified. The 6,220
associated funerary objects are 1
Jefferson Peace Medal; 26 digging sticks;
8 arrow fragments; 1 axe head; 1 baby
rattle; 2 beaded and studded vests; 10
beaded straps; 1 beaded jackknife with
bone handle; 1 beaded leather
ornament; 1 bone comb; 1 bone digging
stick handle; 6 bird bone whistles; 3
bottle caps; 2 bottle openers; 1 bow; 1
brass candlestick ornament; 1 brass
tube; 1 bridle bit; 18 bullet cartridges; 1
cannon ball; 28 ceramic objects; 1
ceramic cup and saucer set; 1 Chinese
coin; 9 chipped stone bifaces; 60
chipped stone flakes; 2 chipped stone
net sinkers; 6 projectile points; 7
chipped stone tools; 1 clay ornament; 1
cloth cap; 4 cobble cores or tools; 1 coin
purse; 1 cold cream jar; 1 copper
crucifix; 3 cradleboards; 2 crescent
shaped leather pieces; 1 decorated bone
handle; 3 dice; 3 drum sticks; 1 eye
water bottle with yellow powder inside;
1 fabric coin purse; 4 fruit pits; 1 pair
of scissors fused to a spoon; 12 glass
bottles; 1 glass ball; 2 glass cups; 11
glass fragments; 1 glass lid; 2 glass
ornaments; 1 glass pipe bowl; 1 glass
swizzle stick; 3 hammerstones; 4
harmonicas; 1 horn comb; 1 horn spoon;
1 horse hair pillow; 1 ice pick; 7 metal
spikes; 3 knives and leather sheaths; 3
lead balls; 36 leather belts; 1 leather
coffin handle; 2 leather comb cases and
combs; 11 leather pouches; 1 leather
purse; 21 saddle rings and stirrups; 6
leather straps; 3 keys; 3 marbles; 4
harness fragments; 1 metal ball; 4 metal
bead bracelets; 23 belt buckles; 4 bolts;
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24756
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 26, 2006 / Notices
3 metal bowls; 135 metal bracelets; 1
shell and button ornament; 16 metal
clasps; 1 metal clip; 4 metal coils; 12
metal combs; 1 metal compact; 5 metal
containers; 3 metal cuff ornaments; 15
metal cups; 1 metal cylinder with chain;
1 metal dish; 1 metal epaulet; 1 metal
finger guard; 1 metal flute; 1 metal fork;
1 metal grommet; 6 gun parts; 7 metal
handles; 1 metal hinge; 2 metal knives;
1 metal ladle; 3 metal jar lids; 1 metal
lighter; 1 metal loop; 1 metal object
encased in leather; 12 metal ornaments;
1 metal pail; 1 metal picture frame
fragment; 2 metal pipe bowl and stem;
1 metal purse; 65 metal rings; 40 metal
spoons; 13 metal springs; 8 metal
straight pins; 5 toys; 19 mirrors; 11
moccasins; 1 nipple topped maul; 3
notched arrow shafts; 2 pencils; 3
pestles; 15 plastic combs; 3 plastic pipe
bowl and stems; 2 pocket knives; 1
kidney stone; 4 projectile point
fragments; 32 quirts; 1 rosary; 1 rubber
band; 12 safety pins; 13 pairs of scissors;
2 worked sticks; 1 shell comb; 367 shell
ornaments; 1 stone bead; 1 stone fused
to buckle; 1 stone mortar; 5 stone
ornaments; 1 stone pipe bowl; 28
studded and beaded leather belts; 12
thread spools; 5 tweezers; 20 sticks with
wrapping and lashing; 87 unidentified
metal items; 6 unidentified modified
bone items; 1 unidentified plastic item;
7 wooden combs; 1 wooden fan; 3
wooden gaming pieces; 5 wood and
bone handles; 2 wooden ornaments; 4
wooden pipe stem fragments; 2 wooden
spindles; 4 unidentified worked wood
pieces; 359 lots wood fragments; 1 lot
wound string; 7 lots yellow ochre; 286
lots glass, metal, shell, wood, plastic,
and ceramic buttons; 2015 lots glass,
metal, shell, and elk tooth beads; 39 lots
bird and mammal remains; 12 lots
animal hide and fur; 3 lots antler
fragments; 16 lots antler tines; 32 lots
bag residue; 47 lots basketry fragments;
2 lots bow fragments; 5 lots ceramic
fragments; 3 lots coffin handles; 14 lots
cordage; 20 lots cradleboard pieces; 1 lot
curtain rings; 1 lot epaulet braid; 427
lots fabric; 10 lots feathers; 1 lot dish
fragments; 316 lots leather, hide, and fur
fragments; 2 lots insect remains; 23 lots
saddle parts; 2 lots fabric, bead, thimble,
and cordage masses; 96 lots matting; 34
lots metal bracelet fragments; 11 lots
metal cans; 3 lots metal can fragments;
6 lots metal chain; 1 lot metal container
fragments; 8 lots metal cup fragments; 8
lots metal discs; 1 lot metal dish and
spoon fragments; 242 lot metal
fragments; 1 lot metal hinge fragments;
30 lots metal ring fragments; 1 lot metal
rivets and buckles; 22 lots metal spoon
fragments; 16 lots metal studs; 1 lot
metal tax tokens; 18 lots metal trunk
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16:58 Apr 25, 2006
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hardware; 6 lots metal tubing; 1 lot
watch gears; 12 lots mirror pieces; 4 lots
moccasin fragments; 278 nails; 1 nested
metal containers; 1 lot newspaper; 2 lots
painted wood; 8 lots paper fragments; 2
lots plant remains; 1 lot gaming sticks;
1 lot music box parts; 20 lots red ochre;
1 lot reeds; 9 lots rolled brass tinklers;
1 lot rope; 2 lots rubber fragments; 18
lots safety pin fragments; 16 lots seeds;
3 lots shell ornament fragments; 1 lot
shellfish remains; 2 lots shoe fragments;
24 lots small gauge metal chain; 9 lots
small stones; 1 lot small wooden box
parts; 4 lots soil samples; 4 lots spoon
fragments; 3 lots string; 22 lots thimbles;
10 lots unidentified organic matter; 5
lots unidentified modified bone
fragments; 15 lots unidentified organic
materials; 2 lots wire; 4 lots wooden
comb fragments; 10 lots wooden gaming
stick fragments; 2 lots wooden gun stock
fragments; 1 lot wooden matches; 13
lots of sticks; 83 bells; 6 lots bell
fragments; and 2 lots worked wood.
Based on osteological information and
associated funerary objects the human
remains from the Palus Cemetery have
been determined to be Native American.
The Palus Indian village area is
composed of a cluster of sites located on
the west side of the Palouse River and
Snake River confluence in southeastern
Washington. The sites are identified as
45FR36A, B, and C. Area A is a late
prehistoric village, area B is a defined
cemetery associated with the Palus
village, and area C is an earlier housepit
cluster. The occurrence of clearly
defined burial areas near to, but set
apart from, the village areas have been
defined by anthropologists as a hallmark
of the late prehistoric period on the
lower Snake River (Leonhardy and Rice
1970). The earliest written account of
the Palus village complex was made by
Lewis and Clark who passed the mouth
of the Palouse River and the unoccupied
village on October 13, 1805 (Thwaites
1905). In 1812, Ross Cox, a Pacific Fur
Company trader, documented his
encampment at the Palus village
(1957:89–91). The Palus village later
became a stopping point for travelers
moving through the Snake River and the
interior Palouse country.
Treaties were negotiated and signed
as the Washington Territory expanded.
Many Palus Indians were sent to the
Indian Territory in Oklahoma after the
Nez Perce War of 1877. In the final
decade of the nineteenth century, the
Palus Indians remaining on their
traditional lands were surrounded by an
expanse of settlers and began moving
onto the Colville, Nez Perce, Umatilla,
and Yakama reservations. By 1897,
approximately 75 Palus Indians lived at
Palus village. In the spring of 1905, a
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
steamboat of American soldiers arrived
at the village and many of the residents
were removed. The few people who
remained at Palus village included Chief
Old Bones, his wife, and at least two of
their children. In 1916, Chief Old Bones
died and was buried in the Palus
cemetery. His grave was marked with a
headstone that remained identifiable at
the time of the excavation. A wife and
at least two children of Chief Old Bones
were also buried at Palus next to the
grave of Chief Old Bones. The last fulltime resident of the Palus village was
Mr. Sam Fisher. His wife, Mrs. Helen
Fisher was the last individual buried in
the cemetery following her death in
1944.
Recent studies done by the
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
Yakama Nation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington; Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, Oregon; and Nez Perce
Tribe, Idaho, document that each tribe
has cultural affiliation with the Palus
Indians as a result of the dispersion of
the Palus people to each of the
reservations during the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. The cultural
affiliation of all the tribes is further
strengthened by living enrolled
members that have documented
ancestors buried at Palus. The
correlation of these members with
specific burials is not possible, except
for Mr. Gordon Fisher, from the
Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reseration, Oregon, who traces his
ancestry directly and without
interruption to Mrs. Helen Fisher. There
is another unnamed lineal descendant
that can trace ancestry directly and
without interruption to Chief Old
Bones. The two lineal descendants have
chosen not to submit a claim for the
human remains and associated funerary
objects, as documented in an agreement
signed on February 13, 2006.
Officials of the Army Corps of
Engineers, Walla Walla District have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C.
3001 (9–10), the human remains
described above represent the physical
remains of a minimum of 94 individuals
of Native American ancestry. Officials of
the Army Corps of Engineers, Walla
Walla District also have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A),
the 6,220 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 Army Corps of Engineers,
Walla Walla District have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2),
there is a relationship of shared group
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 26, 2006 / Notices
identity that can be reasonably traced
between the Native American human
remains and associated funerary objects
and the Confederated Tribes and Bands
of the Yakama Nation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington; Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, Oregon; and Nez Perce
Tribe, Idaho.
Any lineal descendant or
representatives of any other Indian tribe
that believes itself to be culturally
affiliated with the human remains and
associated funerary objects should
contact Lieutenant Colonel Randy L.
Glaeser, Commander, Walla Walla
District Corps of Engineers, 201 North
Third Avenue Walla Walla, WA 99362,
telephone (509–527–7700), before May
26, 2006. Repatriation of the human
remains and associated funerary objects
to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of
the Yakama Nation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington; Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, Oregon; and Nez Perce
Tribe, Idaho may proceed after that date
if no additional claimants come
forward.
The Army Corps of Engineers, Walla
Walla District is responsible for
notifying the Confederated Tribes and
Bands of the Yakama Nation,
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, Washington;
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation, Oregon; Nez Perce
Tribe, Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a
non-federally recognized Indian group
that this notice has been published.
Dated: April 13, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6–6260 Filed 4–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–50–S
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion:
American Museum of Natural History,
New York, NY
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
ACTION:
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
American Museum of Natural History,
New York, NY. The human remains
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:58 Apr 25, 2006
Jkt 208001
were removed from Hancock County,
ME.
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. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
A detailed assessment of the human
remains was made by American
Museum of Natural History professional
staff in consultation with
representatives of the Penobscot Tribe of
Maine.
At an unknown date, human remains
representing a minimum of two
individuals were collected from a shell
heap on Pond Island, Blue Hill Bay, in
Hancock County, ME, during an
excavation sponsored by the Wilson
Museum, Castine, ME. The individual
who collected the human remains is
unknown. In 1965, the human remains
were accessioned into the American
Museum of Natural History collections
as a gift from the Wilson Museum and
Ms. Norman W. Doudiet. No known
individuals were identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Geographic and temporal information
suggest the human remains are from the
postcontact territory of the Penobscot
Indians. A radiocarbon date of 245120
years B.P. associated with the human
remains places them in the postcontact
period. During the postcontact period,
the portion of Maine from which these
human remains were recovered was part
of the traditional territory of the
Penobscot Indians.
Officials of the American Museum of
Natural History 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 American
Museum of Natural History 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
Penobscot Tribe of Maine.
Representatives of any other Indian
tribe that believes itself to be culturally
affiliated with the human remains
should contact Nell Murphy, Director of
Cultural Resources, American Museum
of Natural History, Central Park West at
79th Street, New York, NY 10024–5192,
telephone (212) 769–5837, before May
26, 2006. Repatriation of the human
remains to the Penobscot Tribe of Maine
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24757
may proceed after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
The American Museum of Natural
History is responsible for notifying the
Penobscot Tribe of Maine that this
notice has been published.
Dated: March 31, 2006.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6–6263 Filed 4–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–50–S
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural
Items: American Museum of Natural
History, New York, NY
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice is here given in accordance
with 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 American Museum of
Natural History, New York, NY, 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 31 cultural items are from 2
shamans’ kits. The first shaman’s kit
contains 18 cultural items; the second
shaman’s kit contains 14 cultural items.
At an unknown date, Lieutenant George
Thornton Emmons acquired the 31
cultural items. In 1894, the American
Museum of Natural History purchased
the shamans’ kits from Lieutenant
Emmons and accessioned them into its
collection that same year.
The first shaman’s kit consists of one
box drum, one beating stick, one bundle
of beating sticks, three ornamental
portions of dance headdresses, one
headdress mask, three wooden carvings,
one portion of a wooden rattle, three
strings of scallop shells, four wooden
guards or spirits, and one doctor’s urine
box.
The box drum is made from wood and
is painted to represent a brown bear.
The beating stick measures about 32 cm
x 3 cm x 1 cm. The bundle of beating
sticks measures 37 cm x 14 cm x 7 cm
and consists of 11 sticks tied together
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24755-24757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6260]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Army
Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, WA, and Museum
of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, and Nez
Perce National Historical Park, Spaulding Visitor Center, Spaulding, ID
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 the U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of
Engineers, Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, WA, and in the possession
of the Museum of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman,
WA, and Nez Perce National Historical Park, Spaulding Visitor Center,
Spaulding, ID. The human remains and associated funerary objects were
removed from the Pal[uacute]us (Palus) Cemetery in Franklin County, WA.
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 the Army
Corps of Engineers St. Louis District Mandatory Center of Expertise for
the Curation and Management of Archaeological Collections professional
staff and a detailed assessment of the associated funerary items was
made by Museum of Anthropology, Washington State University
professional staff in consultation with lineal descendants and
representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,
Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-federally
recognized Indian group.
In 1964, human remains representing a minimum of 260 individuals
were removed from the Pal[uacute]us (Palus) Cemetery (45FR36B),
Franklin County, WA, by Washington State University professional staff,
under the direction of the Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla
District. The excavation was undertaken to relocate the cemetery before
flooding by the backwaters of dam construction. In March 1965, human
remains representing an unknown number of individuals were re-interred
on a hill overlooking the original burial site. The remainder of the
human remains and associated funerary objects were housed at the
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, and Museum of Anthropology, Washington
State University, Pullman, WA. In 2000, the human remains and
associated funerary items at the University of Idaho were transferred
to Washington State University. In 1995 and 2005, detailed assessments
were done that determined human remains from the Palus Cemetery
representing a minimum of 94 individuals are present in the extant
collection. There are four known individuals identified. The four known
individuals are Mrs. Helen Fisher, Chief Old Bones, and two other
members of the Old Bones family. The remaining 90 individuals are
unidentified. The 6,220 associated funerary objects are 1 Jefferson
Peace Medal; 26 digging sticks; 8 arrow fragments; 1 axe head; 1 baby
rattle; 2 beaded and studded vests; 10 beaded straps; 1 beaded
jackknife with bone handle; 1 beaded leather ornament; 1 bone comb; 1
bone digging stick handle; 6 bird bone whistles; 3 bottle caps; 2
bottle openers; 1 bow; 1 brass candlestick ornament; 1 brass tube; 1
bridle bit; 18 bullet cartridges; 1 cannon ball; 28 ceramic objects; 1
ceramic cup and saucer set; 1 Chinese coin; 9 chipped stone bifaces; 60
chipped stone flakes; 2 chipped stone net sinkers; 6 projectile points;
7 chipped stone tools; 1 clay ornament; 1 cloth cap; 4 cobble cores or
tools; 1 coin purse; 1 cold cream jar; 1 copper crucifix; 3
cradleboards; 2 crescent shaped leather pieces; 1 decorated bone
handle; 3 dice; 3 drum sticks; 1 eye water bottle with yellow powder
inside; 1 fabric coin purse; 4 fruit pits; 1 pair of scissors fused to
a spoon; 12 glass bottles; 1 glass ball; 2 glass cups; 11 glass
fragments; 1 glass lid; 2 glass ornaments; 1 glass pipe bowl; 1 glass
swizzle stick; 3 hammerstones; 4 harmonicas; 1 horn comb; 1 horn spoon;
1 horse hair pillow; 1 ice pick; 7 metal spikes; 3 knives and leather
sheaths; 3 lead balls; 36 leather belts; 1 leather coffin handle; 2
leather comb cases and combs; 11 leather pouches; 1 leather purse; 21
saddle rings and stirrups; 6 leather straps; 3 keys; 3 marbles; 4
harness fragments; 1 metal ball; 4 metal bead bracelets; 23 belt
buckles; 4 bolts;
[[Page 24756]]
3 metal bowls; 135 metal bracelets; 1 shell and button ornament; 16
metal clasps; 1 metal clip; 4 metal coils; 12 metal combs; 1 metal
compact; 5 metal containers; 3 metal cuff ornaments; 15 metal cups; 1
metal cylinder with chain; 1 metal dish; 1 metal epaulet; 1 metal
finger guard; 1 metal flute; 1 metal fork; 1 metal grommet; 6 gun
parts; 7 metal handles; 1 metal hinge; 2 metal knives; 1 metal ladle; 3
metal jar lids; 1 metal lighter; 1 metal loop; 1 metal object encased
in leather; 12 metal ornaments; 1 metal pail; 1 metal picture frame
fragment; 2 metal pipe bowl and stem; 1 metal purse; 65 metal rings; 40
metal spoons; 13 metal springs; 8 metal straight pins; 5 toys; 19
mirrors; 11 moccasins; 1 nipple topped maul; 3 notched arrow shafts; 2
pencils; 3 pestles; 15 plastic combs; 3 plastic pipe bowl and stems; 2
pocket knives; 1 kidney stone; 4 projectile point fragments; 32 quirts;
1 rosary; 1 rubber band; 12 safety pins; 13 pairs of scissors; 2 worked
sticks; 1 shell comb; 367 shell ornaments; 1 stone bead; 1 stone fused
to buckle; 1 stone mortar; 5 stone ornaments; 1 stone pipe bowl; 28
studded and beaded leather belts; 12 thread spools; 5 tweezers; 20
sticks with wrapping and lashing; 87 unidentified metal items; 6
unidentified modified bone items; 1 unidentified plastic item; 7 wooden
combs; 1 wooden fan; 3 wooden gaming pieces; 5 wood and bone handles; 2
wooden ornaments; 4 wooden pipe stem fragments; 2 wooden spindles; 4
unidentified worked wood pieces; 359 lots wood fragments; 1 lot wound
string; 7 lots yellow ochre; 286 lots glass, metal, shell, wood,
plastic, and ceramic buttons; 2015 lots glass, metal, shell, and elk
tooth beads; 39 lots bird and mammal remains; 12 lots animal hide and
fur; 3 lots antler fragments; 16 lots antler tines; 32 lots bag
residue; 47 lots basketry fragments; 2 lots bow fragments; 5 lots
ceramic fragments; 3 lots coffin handles; 14 lots cordage; 20 lots
cradleboard pieces; 1 lot curtain rings; 1 lot epaulet braid; 427 lots
fabric; 10 lots feathers; 1 lot dish fragments; 316 lots leather, hide,
and fur fragments; 2 lots insect remains; 23 lots saddle parts; 2 lots
fabric, bead, thimble, and cordage masses; 96 lots matting; 34 lots
metal bracelet fragments; 11 lots metal cans; 3 lots metal can
fragments; 6 lots metal chain; 1 lot metal container fragments; 8 lots
metal cup fragments; 8 lots metal discs; 1 lot metal dish and spoon
fragments; 242 lot metal fragments; 1 lot metal hinge fragments; 30
lots metal ring fragments; 1 lot metal rivets and buckles; 22 lots
metal spoon fragments; 16 lots metal studs; 1 lot metal tax tokens; 18
lots metal trunk hardware; 6 lots metal tubing; 1 lot watch gears; 12
lots mirror pieces; 4 lots moccasin fragments; 278 nails; 1 nested
metal containers; 1 lot newspaper; 2 lots painted wood; 8 lots paper
fragments; 2 lots plant remains; 1 lot gaming sticks; 1 lot music box
parts; 20 lots red ochre; 1 lot reeds; 9 lots rolled brass tinklers; 1
lot rope; 2 lots rubber fragments; 18 lots safety pin fragments; 16
lots seeds; 3 lots shell ornament fragments; 1 lot shellfish remains; 2
lots shoe fragments; 24 lots small gauge metal chain; 9 lots small
stones; 1 lot small wooden box parts; 4 lots soil samples; 4 lots spoon
fragments; 3 lots string; 22 lots thimbles; 10 lots unidentified
organic matter; 5 lots unidentified modified bone fragments; 15 lots
unidentified organic materials; 2 lots wire; 4 lots wooden comb
fragments; 10 lots wooden gaming stick fragments; 2 lots wooden gun
stock fragments; 1 lot wooden matches; 13 lots of sticks; 83 bells; 6
lots bell fragments; and 2 lots worked wood.
Based on osteological information and associated funerary objects
the human remains from the Palus Cemetery have been determined to be
Native American. The Palus Indian village area is composed of a cluster
of sites located on the west side of the Palouse River and Snake River
confluence in southeastern Washington. The sites are identified as
45FR36A, B, and C. Area A is a late prehistoric village, area B is a
defined cemetery associated with the Palus village, and area C is an
earlier housepit cluster. The occurrence of clearly defined burial
areas near to, but set apart from, the village areas have been defined
by anthropologists as a hallmark of the late prehistoric period on the
lower Snake River (Leonhardy and Rice 1970). The earliest written
account of the Palus village complex was made by Lewis and Clark who
passed the mouth of the Palouse River and the unoccupied village on
October 13, 1805 (Thwaites 1905). In 1812, Ross Cox, a Pacific Fur
Company trader, documented his encampment at the Palus village
(1957:89-91). The Palus village later became a stopping point for
travelers moving through the Snake River and the interior Palouse
country.
Treaties were negotiated and signed as the Washington Territory
expanded. Many Palus Indians were sent to the Indian Territory in
Oklahoma after the Nez Perce War of 1877. In the final decade of the
nineteenth century, the Palus Indians remaining on their traditional
lands were surrounded by an expanse of settlers and began moving onto
the Colville, Nez Perce, Umatilla, and Yakama reservations. By 1897,
approximately 75 Palus Indians lived at Palus village. In the spring of
1905, a steamboat of American soldiers arrived at the village and many
of the residents were removed. The few people who remained at Palus
village included Chief Old Bones, his wife, and at least two of their
children. In 1916, Chief Old Bones died and was buried in the Palus
cemetery. His grave was marked with a headstone that remained
identifiable at the time of the excavation. A wife and at least two
children of Chief Old Bones were also buried at Palus next to the grave
of Chief Old Bones. The last full-time resident of the Palus village
was Mr. Sam Fisher. His wife, Mrs. Helen Fisher was the last individual
buried in the cemetery following her death in 1944.
Recent studies done by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation, Oregon; and Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho, document that each
tribe has cultural affiliation with the Palus Indians as a result of
the dispersion of the Palus people to each of the reservations during
the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The cultural affiliation of all
the tribes is further strengthened by living enrolled members that have
documented ancestors buried at Palus. The correlation of these members
with specific burials is not possible, except for Mr. Gordon Fisher,
from the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reseration, Oregon, who
traces his ancestry directly and without interruption to Mrs. Helen
Fisher. There is another unnamed lineal descendant that can trace
ancestry directly and without interruption to Chief Old Bones. The two
lineal descendants have chosen not to submit a claim for the human
remains and associated funerary objects, as documented in an agreement
signed on February 13, 2006.
Officials of the Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District have
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains
described above represent the physical remains of a minimum of 94
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Army Corps of
Engineers, Walla Walla District also have determined that, pursuant to
25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 6,220 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 Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a
relationship of shared group
[[Page 24757]]
identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native American
human remains and associated funerary objects and the Confederated
Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes
of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; and Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho.
Any lineal descendant or representatives of any other Indian tribe
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains
and associated funerary objects should contact Lieutenant Colonel Randy
L. Glaeser, Commander, Walla Walla District Corps of Engineers, 201
North Third Avenue Walla Walla, WA 99362, telephone (509-527-7700),
before May 26, 2006. Repatriation of the human remains and associated
funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,
Oregon; and Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho may proceed after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
The Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District is responsible
for notifying the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation,
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,
Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,
Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho; and Wanapum Band, a non-federally
recognized Indian group that this notice has been published.
Dated: April 13, 2005
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-6260 Filed 4-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S
