Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 87055-87056 [2016-28952]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87055-87056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28952]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22421; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Peabody Museum of 
Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, CT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Peabody Museum of Natural History, in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request to the Peabody Museum of Natural 
History. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control 
of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or 
Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Peabody Museum of Natural 
History at the address in this notice by January 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Professor David Skelly, Director, Yale Peabody Museum of 
Natural History, P.O. Box 208118, New Haven, CT 06520-8118, telephone 
(203) 432-3752.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under the 
control of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New 
Haven, CT, 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 Native 
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item(s)

    In 1958, seven cultural items were removed from a Nunamiut burial 
site identified as the Ridge Burial, Anaktuvuk Pass, Brooks Range, 
North Slope Borough, AK, and donated to the Peabody Museum of Natural 
History the same year. The seven unassociated funerary objects are five 
faunal remains, one wood fragment, and one lot of rusted iron 
fragments.
    The archeological context and the presence of trade materials 
confirms a post-contact date for this burial. The region of Anaktuvuk 
was, and is, occupied by the Nunamiut people who are today represented 
by the Village of Anaktuvuk Pass.
    In an unknown year, 11 cultural items were removed by an unknown 
individual(s) from a Nunamiut burial site near Tuluak Lake, Anaktuvuk 
Pass, Brooks Range, North Slope Borough, AK. The cultural items were 
purchased from local Nunamiut persons in 1957 and 1958, and donated to 
the Peabody Museum of Natural History. The 11 unassociated funerary 
objects are one rifle, one brass ramrod fitting, one brass sling 
fitting, one lot of lead round ball bullets, one lot of lead fragments, 
one lot of metal springs, one lot of glass beads, one lot of spalls, 
one bone spatula, one antler pendant, and one biface fragment.
    The archeological context and the presence of trade materials 
confirms a post-contact date for this burial. The region of Anaktuvuk 
was, and is, occupied by the Nunamiut people who are today represented 
by the Village of Anaktuvuk Pass.

Determinations Made by the Peabody Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Peabody Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 18 cultural items 
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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group

[[Page 87056]]

identity that can be reasonably traced between the unassociated 
funerary objects and the Village of Anaktuvuk Pass.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Professor David Skelly, Director, Yale 
Peabody Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 208118, New Haven, CT 
06520-8118, telephone (203) 432-3752, by January 3, 2017. After that 
date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control 
of the unassociated funerary objects to the Village of Anaktuvuk Pass 
may proceed.
    The Peabody Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Village of Anaktuvuk Pass that this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 15, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-28952 Filed 12-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P