Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO, 23504-23505 [2012-9471]

Download as PDF 23504 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 76 / Thursday, April 19, 2012 / Notices Dated: April 12, 2012. David Tarler, Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2012–9461 Filed 4–18–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [2253–665] Notice of Inventory Completion: Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Illinois State Museum has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a likely cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Illinois State Museum. Repatriation of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the Illinois State Museum at the address below by May 21, 2012. ADDRESSES: Dr. Robert E. Warren, Curator of Anthropology, Illinois State Museum, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703–3500, telephone (217) 524–7903. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under the control of the Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL. 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. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Consultation A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Illinois State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:10 Apr 18, 2012 Jkt 226001 Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. History and Description of the Remains Prior to 1967, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed by an unidentified person or persons from a location recorded as ‘‘Big Eddy,’’ ‘‘By-1’’ and ‘‘Tennessee.’’ The human remains, consisting of one right tibia with healed periostitis (possible healed fracture), were later transferred to the Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown, IL, and placed in the Dickson Pathology Collection. In 1967, the Dickson Mounds Museum transferred possession and control of the human remains to the Illinois State Museum (ISM 809 541). No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Museum and historical records indicate the cultural affiliation of the human remains may be Cherokee. The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation has no listing for a ‘‘Big Eddy’’ site in its statewide archaeological site file. However, it is likely that ‘‘By-1’’ refers to site 40BY1, a village site recorded in 1936 near the confluence of South Chestuee Creek and the Hiwassee River in Bradley County, TN. Site 40BY1 is currently mapped within the boundaries of two large historic Cherokee town sites: Chestoe (40BY42) on the left (south) bank of the Hiwassee River and Chestuee (40PK2) on the right (north) bank. The names of the towns were derived from the Cherokee term Tsistuyi, meaning ‘‘Rabbit Place.’’ Chestoe and Chestuee were affiliated with the Overhill division of Cherokee towns located along the Hiwassee and Little Tennessee rivers. They may have been occupied as early as 1715, when mapmaker John Herbert joined Colonel George Chicken on a diplomatic mission to the Cherokee and documented the towns. The towns were destroyed along with nine other Overhill Cherokee towns during a 1780 military campaign led by Colonels Arthur Campbell of Virginia and John Sevier of Tennessee, but the Cherokee apparently reoccupied the towns by 1799. An archaeological survey has confirmed the former existence of a village at the site. A small collection of pottery sherds collected at the site in 1936 contains one shell-tempered sherd with a rim strip that could represent Overhill Cherokee or Mississippian occupations. A review of the skeletal morphology indicates that the individual is likely to be Native American. The Cherokee Indians are represented by three PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 present-day Indian tribes, the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Determinations Made by the Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL Officials of the Illinois State Museum have determined that: • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9), the human remains described above represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry. • 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 Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Additional Requestors and Disposition Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Dr. Robert E. Warren, Curator of Anthropology, Illinois State Museum, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703–3500, telephone (217) 524–7903, before May 21, 2012. Repatriation of the human remains to the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. The Illinois State Museum is responsible for notifying the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina; and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma that this notice has been published. Dated: April 12, 2012. David Tarler, Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2012–9465 Filed 4–18–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [2253–665] Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has completed an inventory of human remains and SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 76 / Thursday, April 19, 2012 / Notices associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary objects may contact the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a cultural affiliation with the human remains and associated funerary objects should contact the Denver Museum of Nature & Science at the address below by May 21, 2012. ADDRESSES: Chip ColwellChanthaphonh, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80204, telephone (303) 370– 6378. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 possession of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Kern County, CA. 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. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Consultation A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California; Table Mountain Rancheria of California; and Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California (hereafter referred to as ‘‘The Tribes’’). History and Description of the Remains Sometime between 1928 and 1934, human remains representing, at VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:10 Apr 18, 2012 Jkt 226001 minimum, four individuals were removed from burial contexts in the area of Buena Vista Lake, Kern County, CA. Mr. George E. Smith and/or Mrs. Ethel Smith may have collected the human remains and associated funerary objects in 1928, while digging and privately collecting in the Buena Vista Lake vicinity, or sometime between 1933 and 1934 while Mr. Smith was working on an archeological excavation with Dr. W. D. Strong of the Smithsonian Institution at Buena Vista Lake. In 1951, Mary W. A. Crane and Francis V. Crane purchased the human remains and associated funerary objects from Mr. Smith’s small museum in California. In 1983, the Cranes donated the human remains to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (then called the Denver Museum of Natural History) and the museum accessioned them into the collection that same year. Two individuals are represented by cranial fragments (AC.2155). One individual is represented by two fragments of a thoracic vertebra, bonded together with an obsidian point between them (AC.2156). One individual is represented by two worn adult molars (AC.2183A) and is associated with a shell necklace (AC.2183B). No known individuals were identified. The two associated funerary objects are a projectile point and a shell necklace. Museum records originally documented these four individuals as ‘‘California Indians.’’ In 1994, the museum incorrectly affiliated the remains with the Yurok Tribe, though paperwork suggests they might have also been affiliated with the Mi’Wuk or Yokut. In 2003, the museum determined that the remains were ‘‘culturally unidentifiable.’’ On February 25, 2008, the museum published a Notice of Inventory Completion (73 FR 10054– 10055) affiliating other human remains and associated funerary objects from the Smiths’ Buena Vista excavations with The Tribes. In 2011, new research and consultation on the remains determined that these human remains also came from the Smiths’ collection efforts at Buena Vista Lake. Based on provenience, museum records, research and consultation with tribal representatives, the human remains and associated funerary objects are determined to be Native American. The Buena Vista Lake vicinity and the Native American town of Tulamniu are in the territory occupied during the early historic period by the Southern Valley Yokuts, now known as the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California. During consultation, representatives of the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 23505 Reservation, California, confirmed the historic presence of their ancestors in the Buena Vista Lake area and claimed a relationship of shared group identity with the human remains. Additionally, in consultations, and with support of anthropological evidence, tribal representatives emphasized that the Buena Vista Lake vicinity relates to the Yokut people, the ancestors of The Tribes. These tribes confirmed the historic presence of their ancestors in the Buena Vista Lake area and asserted a relationship of shared group identity with the human remains. Determinations Made by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined that: • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described above represent the physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry. • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the two 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. • 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 associated funerary objects and The Tribes. Additional Requestors and Disposition Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80204, telephone (303) 370–6378, before May 21, 2012. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published. Dated: April 12, 2012. David Tarler, Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2012–9471 Filed 4–18–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–50–P E:\FR\FM\19APN1.SGM 19APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23504-23505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9471]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has completed an 
inventory of human remains and

[[Page 23505]]

associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-
day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and 
associated funerary objects may contact the Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional 
claimants come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact the Denver Museum of Nature & Science at the 
address below by May 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh, Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80204, telephone (303) 370-
6378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 possession of the Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, Denver, CO. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Kern County, CA.
    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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Denver 
Museum of Nature & Science professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of 
California; Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, 
California; Table Mountain Rancheria of California; and Tule River 
Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California (hereafter 
referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime between 1928 and 1934, human remains representing, at 
minimum, four individuals were removed from burial contexts in the area 
of Buena Vista Lake, Kern County, CA. Mr. George E. Smith and/or Mrs. 
Ethel Smith may have collected the human remains and associated 
funerary objects in 1928, while digging and privately collecting in the 
Buena Vista Lake vicinity, or sometime between 1933 and 1934 while Mr. 
Smith was working on an archeological excavation with Dr. W. D. Strong 
of the Smithsonian Institution at Buena Vista Lake. In 1951, Mary W. A. 
Crane and Francis V. Crane purchased the human remains and associated 
funerary objects from Mr. Smith's small museum in California. In 1983, 
the Cranes donated the human remains to the Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science (then called the Denver Museum of Natural History) and the 
museum accessioned them into the collection that same year. Two 
individuals are represented by cranial fragments (AC.2155). One 
individual is represented by two fragments of a thoracic vertebra, 
bonded together with an obsidian point between them (AC.2156). One 
individual is represented by two worn adult molars (AC.2183A) and is 
associated with a shell necklace (AC.2183B). No known individuals were 
identified. The two associated funerary objects are a projectile point 
and a shell necklace.
    Museum records originally documented these four individuals as 
``California Indians.'' In 1994, the museum incorrectly affiliated the 
remains with the Yurok Tribe, though paperwork suggests they might have 
also been affiliated with the Mi'Wuk or Yokut. In 2003, the museum 
determined that the remains were ``culturally unidentifiable.'' On 
February 25, 2008, the museum published a Notice of Inventory 
Completion (73 FR 10054-10055) affiliating other human remains and 
associated funerary objects from the Smiths' Buena Vista excavations 
with The Tribes. In 2011, new research and consultation on the remains 
determined that these human remains also came from the Smiths' 
collection efforts at Buena Vista Lake.
    Based on provenience, museum records, research and consultation 
with tribal representatives, the human remains and associated funerary 
objects are determined to be Native American. The Buena Vista Lake 
vicinity and the Native American town of Tulamniu are in the territory 
occupied during the early historic period by the Southern Valley 
Yokuts, now known as the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River 
Reservation, California. During consultation, representatives of the 
Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California, 
confirmed the historic presence of their ancestors in the Buena Vista 
Lake area and claimed a relationship of shared group identity with the 
human remains. Additionally, in consultations, and with support of 
anthropological evidence, tribal representatives emphasized that the 
Buena Vista Lake vicinity relates to the Yokut people, the ancestors of 
The Tribes. These tribes confirmed the historic presence of their 
ancestors in the Buena Vista Lake area and asserted a relationship of 
shared group identity with the human remains.

Determinations Made by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of four individuals of Native 
American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the two 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.
     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 associated funerary objects and The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh, Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80204, telephone 
(303) 370-6378, before May 21, 2012. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 12, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-9471 Filed 4-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-50-P

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