Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, Anchorage, AK, 41989-41990 [2017-18686]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41989-41990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18686]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23766; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Alaska Region, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, (Alaska 
Region USFWS), has completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that 
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-
day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants 
or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization, 
including Alaska Native Tribes, not identified in this notice that wish 
to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request to the Alaska Region 
USFWS. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of 
the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native 
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations not identified in this notice that wish to request 
transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written 
request with information in support of the request to the Alaska Region 
USFWS at the address in this notice by October 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Edward J. DeCleva, Regional Historic Preservation Officer, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, 1011 East Tudor Road, 
MS-235, Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone (907) 786-3399, email 
edward_decleva@fws.gov.

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 Alaska Region USFWS. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were recovered from two sites on Kodiak 
Island, AK.
    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 Alaska 
Region USFWS professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository of Kodiak, Alaska, a 
NAGPRA representative on Kodiak Island designated by the Kaguyak 
Village, Native Village of Afognak, Native Village of Akhiok, Native 
Village of Larsen Bay, Native Village of Ouzinkie, Native Village of 
Port Lions, Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak (previously listed as the Shoonaq' 
Tribe of Kodiak), Tangirnaq Native Village (formerly Lesnoi Village 
(aka Woody Island)), and the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor (previously 
listed as Native Village of Old Harbor and Village of Old Harbor).

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, 13 individuals 
were removed from the Younger Kiavak site 418, Alaska Heritage 
Resources Survey (AHRS) site number 049-KOD-00099, Kodiak Island, AK. 
There are eight numbered burials and these burials contain nine of the 
individuals. The human remains include three possible females, two 
possible males, and eight individuals of indeterminate sex. No known 
individuals were identified. The 31 associated funerary objects include 
3 wood samples, 1 soil sample, 1 sulfide mineral, 2 projectile points, 
1 bone labret, 4 ulu blades, 2 spear prongs, 3 modified mammal bone, 1 
unmodified bone, 1 metal hammerhead, 1 metal spoon, 1 lot of metal 
fragments, 1 u-notched stone, 1 bone socket piece, 1 groundstone scrap, 
1 stone scrap, 1 lot of prehistoric pottery sherds, 1 glass bottle 
stopper, 1 chipped stone, 1 mammal tooth, 1 polishing stone, and 1 
abrasive stone.
    In 1963, human remains representing, at minimum, 2 individuals were 
removed from the Old Kiavak site 419, AHRS site number 049-KOD-00100, 
Kodiak Island, AK. The human remains include 2 adult individuals of 
indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    As part of the Aleut-Konyag project conducted by the University of 
Wisconsin Madison, excavations took place at several sites on Kodiak 
Island. Two of the sites, Old and Younger Kiavak, are located on the 
southeastern coast of Kodiak Island, south of the mouth of the lagoon 
at the head of Kiavak Bay. The Younger Kiavak site, originally tested 
and reported by Ale[scaron] Hrdli[ccaron]ka in 1944, contained several 
eroding burials, glass beads, stone lamps, and unspecified artifacts. 
During the 1963 excavation, Donald Clark notes that the site revealed 
sparse evidence of historic occupation, although numerous trade goods 
accompanied a shallow burial.
    The Old Kiavak site is located adjacent to the Younger Kiavak site. 
Two trenches were excavated in the main mounded portion of the site and 
a small test trench was excavated in the lower secondary portion of the 
site. Three components were identified that included the Old Kiavak 
phase (1678-407 B.C) of the Kachemak tradition, the Early Koniag 
Tradition (to A.D. 1040), and an historic period occupation (circa A.D. 
1900).
    The collection was curated and stored at the University of 
Wisconsin-Madison until 2006. The U.S. Army Corps of

[[Page 41990]]

Engineers was tasked by the Regional Historic Preservation Officer of 
the Alaska Region USFWS to determine locations of Alaskan archeological 
collections. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers located and recovered 
this collection, conducted a complete inventory, and returned the human 
remains to the Alaska Region USFWS for storage.

Determinations Made by the Alaska Region USFWS

    Officials of the Alaska Region USFWS have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 15 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 31 objects described 
in this notice 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 Alutiiq 
Tribe of Old Harbor (previously listed as Native Village of Old Harbor 
and Village of Old Harbor).

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Alaska Native Tribe 
not identified in this notice that wishes to request transfer of 
control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should 
submit a written request with information in support of the request to 
Edward DeCleva, Regional Historic Preservation Officer/Archaeologist, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, 1011 East Tudor Road, 
MS-235, Anchorage, AK 99013, telephone (907) 786-3399, email 
edward_decleva@fws.gov, by October 5, 2017. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Alutiiq Tribe of 
Old Harbor (previously listed as Native Village of Old Harbor and 
Village of Old Harbor) may proceed.
    The Alaska Region USFWS is responsible for notifying the Alutiiq 
Tribe of Old Harbor (previously listed as Native Village of Old Harbor 
and Village of Old Harbor) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 29, 2017.
Sarah Glass,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-18686 Filed 9-1-17; 8:45 am]
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