Notice of Inventory Completion: The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 74871 [2012-30460]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 74871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30460]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-11730; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The Museum of Anthropology at 
Washington State University, Pullman, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Museum of Anthropology has completed an inventory of human 
remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribe, and has determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. 
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects may contact the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University. Repatriation of the human remains associated funerary items 
to the 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 Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University at the address below by January 17, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Mary Collins, Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University, Pullman, WA 99164-4910, telephone (509) 335-4314.

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 Museum of 
Anthropology at Washington State University, Pullman, WA. The human 
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Stevens 
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 associate 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 Museum 
of Anthropology at Washington State University professional staff in 
consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1979, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals 
were removed from site 45CH235, the ``Olds Station Site'' located in 
Stevens County, WA. The remains were disturbed by the excavation of a 
water line for the city of Wenatchee. The remains came from a single 
excavator bucket load of sediment. The remains were thought to have 
come from very near the ground surface and were thought to be less than 
100 years old and possibly to represent a single mass interment. The 11 
associated funerary objects include one hammerstone, two edge ground 
cobbles, one net sinker, one stone core, one wooden coffin fragment, 
one biface, three flakes, and one maul.
    The remains were identified by archaeologists from Washington State 
University who were monitoring the water line excavation work (Galm 
1980). At some unknown time after 1980, the remains were transferred to 
the University of Idaho. In 2000, the remains were returned to the 
Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University.
    The site is within the traditional territory of Wenatchee Band of 
the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Historical, 
archaeological, ethnographic, and linguistic information links this 
group of people to the area, represented by the present-day 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Archaeological 
evidence recorded at the site suggests the burials may be as recent as 
the late 19th century.

Determinations Made by the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University

    Officials of the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State 
University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of four individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 11 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 
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Mary Collins, Museum of Anthropology at 
Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-4910, telephone (509) 
335-4314, before January 17, 2013. Repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University is 
responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes of the Colville 
Reservation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 13, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-30460 Filed 12-17-12; 8:45 am]
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