Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, 77897-77898 [2010-31285]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77897-77898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31285]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: University of 
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA

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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the University of 
Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, PA, 
that meet the definitions of sacred objects and/or objects of cultural 
patrimony 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 eight Tlingit objects are one wooden box drum (catalogue number 
NA6828); one hide robe (catalogue number NA6829); two carved wooden 
masks (catalogue numbers NA6831 and NA6832); one carved wooden 
headdress (catalogue number NA6835); one head cover (catalogue number 
NA6836); one carved wooden rattle (catalogue number NA6845); and one 
carved wooden pipe (catalogue number NA6862).
    The first cultural item is a drum (NA6828) made of two pieces of 
cedar wood, called Old-Man-of-War Box Drum. One narrow side is carved 
to represent the ``old-man-of-war'' and the opposing side is open; the 
broad sides are painted in geometric figures in red and black. The drum 
measures approximately 65.0 cm long, 32.0 cm wide and 85.0 cm high.

[[Page 77898]]

    The second cultural item is a robe (NA6829) made from three panels 
of caribou hide sewn together, called the Lituya Bay Robe. The seams 
are fringed and the top and sides are trimmed with marten fur. The 
imagery on the robe is painted with black and red, and either yellow or 
white pigment. The central figure of the image represents a rock in 
Lituya Bay and two side images represent rapids. The robe measures 
approximately 157.0 cm wide and 127.0 cm long.
    The third cultural item is a mask (NA6831) that consists of carved 
wood painted with red, black and white pigment, representing a tree 
stump, and called the Owl-of-the Heavens. On the top of the stump sits 
a taxidermic owl that can be moved by the performer wearing the mask. 
The mask measures approximately 24.5 cm high and 20.5 cm wide.
    The fourth cultural item is a mask (NA6832), called Commander-of-
the-Tides. The face is painted with red and black pigmented designs 
representing feathers, and includes actual bird feathers crowning the 
mask and a wide leather band at the back. The eyes are movable and made 
to represent the movements of the changing ocean tides. The mask 
measures approximately 35.0 cm high and 24.0 cm wide.
    The fifth cultural item is a headdress or shakee.at (NA6835), 
called Little Ravine, after a passageway over a sand mount at Dry Bay, 
near Yakutat. It is elaborately carved with multiple figures painted 
with red, black and blue-green pigment, and ornamented with abalone, 
ermine fur, eagle down and feathers. The carving represents an episode 
of the Raven's Journey that took place near the sand mount. The 
headdress measures approximately 53.0 cm high and 22.0 cm wide.
    The sixth cultural item is a head cover (NA6836) formed from a 
corner piece of a Chilkat blanket made of twisted wild mountain goat 
wool. A piece of red felt was added as a border and a second small 
piece of red felt covers the lower front of the head cover. The head 
cover is ornamented with mountain goat hair and a fox tail. A carved 
wooden figure, painted with black, red and blue-green pigment, and 
representing the Raven, is positioned at the top front of the head 
cover. The head cover measures approximately 31.8 cm high and 21.6 cm 
long.
    The seventh cultural item is a rattle (NA6845) carved to represent 
a loon, with a recumbent human figure and a raven's head on top. It is 
painted with black, red and blue-green pigment. The rattle measures 
approximately 32.5 cm long, 7.7 cm wide and 9.5 cm high.
    The eighth cultural item is a tobacco pipe (NA6862) carved with a 
representation of a spirit or animal, which remains unidentified. It is 
painted with blue pigment at the base only and a metal strip, probably 
copper, is attached around the opening of the bowl. The pipe is large, 
measuring approximately 20.0 cm high and 14.5 cm wide.
    In 1924, Louis Shotridge, a Tlingit Curator employed by the 
University of Pennsylvania Museum, purchased the eight objects as part 
of a collection of 49 objects, which are represented by 38 catalogue 
numbers, referred to as the ``Snail House Collection,'' for $500.00 
from a Tlingit individual, Archie White (Dimitri Tukk'axaaw), the Mt. 
Fairweather/Snail House headmaster of the T'akdeintaan Clan of Hoonah, 
AK, for the collections of the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
    The cultural affiliation of the eight cultural items is with the 
Tlingit T'akdeintaan Clan of Hoonah, AK, as indicated through museum 
records, and by consultation evidence presented by the Hoonah Indian 
Association, a Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, and the Huna Heritage 
Foundation, a non-Federally recognized Indian group, acting on behalf 
of the Huna Totem Corporation and the Tlingit T'akdeintaan Clan of 
Hoonah, AK.
    Based on consultation, museum documentation, anthropological 
literature, and expert opinion, six of the cultural items are 
considered to be sacred objects, one is considered to be an object of 
cultural patrimony, and one is considered to be both an object of 
cultural patrimony and sacred object. The six cultural items that are 
sacred objects are the two carved wooden masks (NA6831 and NA6832); the 
headdress (NA6835); the head cover (NA6836); the carved wooden rattle 
(NA6845); and the carved wooden pipe (NA6862). The cultural item that 
is considered an object of cultural patrimony is the wooden box drum 
(NA6828). Lastly, the cultural item that is considered to be both a 
sacred object and an object of cultural patrimony is the hide robe 
(NA6829).
    Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology 
and Anthropology have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), 
seven cultural items described above are specific ceremonial objects 
needed by traditional Native American religious leaders for the 
practice of traditional Native American religions by their present-day 
adherents. Officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of 
Archaeology and Anthropology also have determined, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), two cultural items described above have ongoing 
historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native 
American group or culture itself, rather than property owned by an 
individual. Lastly, officials of the University of Pennsylvania Museum 
of Archaeology and Anthropology have determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be 
reasonably traced between the sacred objects and the objects of 
cultural patrimony and the Hoonah Indian Association, a Federally-
recognized Indian Tribe, and the Tlingit T'akdeintaan Clan of Hoonah, 
AK.
    Representatives of any other Indian Tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects and/or objects of 
cultural patrimony should contact Dr. Richard Hodges, Director, 
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 3260 
South St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-6324, telephone (215) 898-4050, 
before January 13, 2011. Repatriation of the sacred objects and objects 
of cultural patrimony to the Hoonah Indian Association, a Federally-
recognized Indian Tribe, and the Tling[iacute]t T'akdeintaan Clan of 
Hoonah, AK, may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and 
Anthropology is responsible for notifying the Hoonah Indian 
Association, a Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, and the Huna Heritage 
Foundation, a non-federally recognized Indian group, that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: December 7, 2010.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-31285 Filed 12-13-10; 8:45 am]
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