Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, NE, 44448-44450 [2017-20294]

Download as PDF 44448 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Notices No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. In 1940, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from the Medwin Knoll site, Sussex County, NJ, by W.B. Wilson, an amateur archeologist, who donated them to the New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include a fragmentary skull and infracranial remains. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present. In 1980, human remains representing, at minimum, seven individuals were removed from a site in Gloucester City, Camden County, NJ, by a salvage crew during the construction of a building. The human remains were transferred to the New Jersey State Museum in 1980. The human remains include the fragmentary remains of at least seven individuals. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from site 28Mi-72, in Monroe Township, Middlesex County, NJ, by a school group who discovered them eroding out of a bank. The human remains include skull fragments, limb fragments, and six teeth. No known individual was identified. The 27 associated funerary objects are 4 pieces of fire cracked rock, 22 flakes, and 1 piece of glass. In 1995, State Archaeologist Dr. Lorraine Williams identified all of the human remains listed in this notice as dating from the Woodland Period to the Contact Period, a time during which Delaware-speaking groups occupied this area of New Jersey. Consultation with the Western Delaware Nation, the Stockbridge Munsee, and the Delaware Tribe of Indians occurred in 1995, and all representatives agreed that the locations from which these human remains were removed was traditionally occupied by the Delaware until progressive removals westward began in the early 1700s. It was noted during consultation that the presence of the Shawnee in the northern portion of the Delaware River Valley in the late 17th and early 18th centuries has been historically documented. Based on the analysis of the human remains, site information, and consultation, the New Jersey State Museum has determined a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and the Delaware (Lenape) people. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Sep 21, 2017 Jkt 241001 Determinations Made by the New Jersey State Museum Officials of the New Jersey State Museum have determined that: • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 161 individuals of Native American ancestry. • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 137 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 Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin. Additional Requestors and Disposition Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 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 with information in support of the request to Dr. Gregory D. Lattanzi, Bureau of Archaeology & Ethnology, New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625, telephone (609) 984–9327, email gregory.lattanzi@sos.nj.gov, by October 23, 2017. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin, may proceed. The New Jersey State Museum is responsible for notifying the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin, that this notice has been published. Dated: July 28, 2017. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2017–20305 Filed 9–21–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0023936; PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, NE National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District (Omaha District), 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 Omaha District. 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. SUMMARY: 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 Omaha District at the address in this notice by October 23, 2017. DATES: Ms. Sandra Barnum, U.S. Army Engineer District, Omaha, ATTN: CENWO–PM–AB, 1616 Capital Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102, telephone, (402) 995–2674, email sandra.v.barnum@ usace.army.mil. ADDRESSES: Notice is hereby 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 Omaha District, Omaha, NE., 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Notices History and Description of the Cultural Items Between 1965 and 1968, two cultural items were removed from the Fort Manuel site (39CO5), Corson County, SD, and are presently located at the South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center (SARC), under the managerial control of the Omaha District. Between 1965 and 1966, G. Hubert Smith recovered human remains (Individual 2) and associated funerary objects. In 1968, J.J. Hoffman and R.B. Johnson, SIRBS, recovered the human remains of two other individuals (Individuals 1 and 3) and associated funerary objects consisting of wood fragments. The human remains were stored at the University of NebraskaLincoln until 1986, when they were moved to SARC. In 1987, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville received the human remains and conducted an inventory before returning them to SARC in 1988. The human remains were housed at SARC until May 20, 1994, when they were repatriated to the Cheyenne River Sioux with the wood fragments. The remaining two unassociated funerary objects are two bear proximal phalanges that records show were originally collected with Individual 2. The Fort Manuel site (39CO5) is a multi-component site on a narrow terrace above the confluence of the Missouri River and Hunkpapa Creek, and was most likely occupied during the Middle Missouri Tradition (900– 1500), Extended (1500–1675), Postcontact Coalescent (1675–1780), and Historic period (post-1800). Fort Manuel was established at the location as a trading post by the Missouri Fur Company in 1812 and abandoned in 1813. A journal kept by a Company clerk at Fort Manuel states that two Company men, one Native American man, and two Native American women died during the winter of 1812–1813, indicating a Historic period occupation. None of the individuals recovered from the site can be tied to the journal with any certainty. Individual 1 was found with wood fragments, possibly either coffin or wood slab fragments, which indicates either a Lakota affiliation (post-1868) or an Arikara affiliation (1500–1780). Individual 2 was placed on a scaffold then later buried, indicating an Arikara affiliation. Individual 3 was found on the surface of the site indicating a Historic period occupation and affiliated with the Lakota or Arikara. Mortuary practices of the Individual 2 as well as historic documentation indicate the human VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Sep 21, 2017 Jkt 241001 remains are most likely affiliated with the Arikara. In August of 1979, 24 cultural items were removed from the Bergner site (39BR36), Brule County, SD, and are presently located at the South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center (SARC), under the managerial control of the Omaha District. The Bergner site is a burial site on a flat terrace above Lake Francis Case, south of Chamberlain, SD, and was discovered in August of 1979 by Mr. Lawrence Bergner. The human remains were eroding out of the bank and Mr. Bergner reported it to local authorities, who collected the human remains and 24 funerary objects. The human remains were then released to Timothy R. Nowak, Corp of Engineers field archeologist, who assessed the site but did no further excavations. At least 4 sets of human remains were recovered. The funerary objects were turned over to SARC in 1981. The human remains remained with the Corps of Engineers until some time prior to 1990, when they were reburied at site 39ST15 on the Missouri River. The excavation records show the funerary items as having been removed from the burial of a specific individual from site 39BR36. The 24 unassociated funerary objects are 16 burned clay fragments; 4 ceramic rim sherds (Iona Indented and La Roche, Wheeler); 2 bison horn cores; 1 skunk humerus; and 1 lot of wood fragments. The Bergner site (39BR36) is a burial site that was most likely occupied between 1550 and 1675, dating to the Extended Variant of the Coalescent tradition. The archeological community associates the pottery types with the Extended Variant of the Coalescent tradition. Populations associated with the Coalescent tradition within this area and time frame are believed to be ancestral to the Arikara, therefore the unassociated funerary objects are most likely affiliated with the Arikara. In approximately 1975, 31 cultural items were collected from the Oacoma Village site (39LM26), Lyman County, SD, and are presently located at the South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center (SARC), under the managerial control of the Omaha District. The Oacoma Village site is a large village on a low terrace above the Missouri River and was excavated around 1975 by an unknown individual. At least two sets of human remains were recovered. In 1978, the human remains were discovered during an inventory at SARC in 1978. It is unclear how the remains came to be at SARC. In the same year, the University of TennesseeKnoxville received the human remains and conducted an inventory before PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 44449 returning them to South Dakota in 1986. The human remains were then reburied at site 39ST15 on the Missouri River. SARC records show the funerary items as having been removed from the burial of a specific individual from site 39LM26. The 31 unassociated funerary objects are 13 ceramic rim sherds; 10 ceramic body sherds; 1 bison mandible; 1 modified bison rib tool; 1 biface knife; 1 biface core; 1 plate chalcedony knife; 1 utilized chert flake; 1 thinning flake; and 1 spokeshave. The Oacoma Village site (39LM26) is a large village that was most likely occupied during several components between 1500 and 1862, all variants of the Coalescent tradition. The entire Oacoma Village site encompasses a large area that was previously three sites, Oacoma Village I (39LM24), Oacoma Village II (39LM26), and Oacoma Village III (39LM27). The three sites were later combined and considered Oacoma Village (39LM26) when excavated by Marvin F. Kivett, Smithsonian Institute River Basin Survey, between 1951 and 1952, and prior to the discovery of the burials in 1975. The village was comprised of 40–50 houses. The Oacoma Village site that was excavated by Kivett included ceramic pottery types that are associated with a Post Contact Coalescent tradition (1675– 1780) occupation. The rim sherds found with the burials in 1975 represent pottery types found in three different periods, Extended Coalescent tradition, Post Contact Coalescent tradition, and the Disorganized Coalescent tradition. These three periods are known for primary inhumations, which researchers believe was done for the two sets of human remains. Populations associated with the Coalescent tradition within this area and time frame are believed to be ancestral to the Arikara, therefore the unassociated funerary objects are likely affiliated with the Arikara. The Arikara are represented today by the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota. Consultation with the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota, indicates that these kinds of funerary objects are placed with individuals at the time of death. Determinations Made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, have determined that: • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 57 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 E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1 44450 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Notices 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 identity that can be reasonably traced between the unassociated funerary objects and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota. 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 Ms. Sandra Barnum, U.S. Army Engineer District, Omaha, ATTN: CENWO–PM–AB, 1616 Capital Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102, telephone, (402) 995–2674, email sandra.v.barnum@ usace.army.mil, by October 23, 2017. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota, may proceed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, is responsible for notifying the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota, that this notice has been published. Dated: August 2, 2017. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2017–20294 Filed 9–21–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0023846; PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Sacramento, CA National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Mid-Pacific Regional Office, 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 associated funerary objects and SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Sep 21, 2017 Jkt 241001 present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to Reclamation, MidPacific Regional Office. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects 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 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 the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, MidPacific Regional Office, at the address in this notice by October 23, 2017. ADDRESSES: Melanie Ryan, NAGPRA Specialist/Physical Anthropologist, Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Regional Office, MP–153, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, telephone (916) 978–5526, email emryan@ usbr.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 and associated funerary objects under the control of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Regional Office, Sacramento, CA. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, 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 Reclamation, MidPacific Regional Office, professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Bishop Paiute Tribe (previously listed as the PaiuteShoshone Indians of the Bishop Community of the Bishop Colony, California) and the Tuolumne Band of PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria of California. The following Indian Tribes were invited to consult but did not participate in consultation: The Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians; California Valley Miwok Tribe; Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians; Ione Band of Miwok Indians; Jackson Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians; Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians; and Wilton Rancheria (hereafter referred to as ‘‘The Invited and Consulted Tribes’’) History and Description of the Remains In August of 1975, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, were inadvertently removed from the Texas Charley Gulch site (CA– CAL–0338, original site number 4–CAL– S–286) in Calaveras County, CA. The site was first excavated in 1975 by San Francisco State University under the direction of Dr. Michael Moratto. Three burials were encountered in two of the units, but the human remains were left in situ. In 2013, SFSU notified Reclamation of the existence of an isolated left mandibular second premolar in the CA–CAL–0338 collection. Physical custody was transferred to Reclamation, Mid-Pacific, on March 31, 2013. Subsequent reanalysis of the site CA–CAL–0338 faunal assemblage by Reclamation, MidPacific, professional staff resulted in the identification of an additional 97 pieces of human bone. The fragmentary nature of the remains precluded determination of age or sex. No known individual was identified. The five associated funerary objects include four Olivella shell beads and one Haliotis disc. A sixth grave item, a bone awl fragment was not among the items transferred by San Francisco State University to Reclamation, Mid-Pacific, in 2013. Age estimates of CA–CAL–0338 are based on temporally-diagnostic artifacts and radiocarbon dates. Uncalibrated 14C dates of 320 ±80 BP (Unit I–100–N, I– 9040) and 405 ±80 BP (Unit G–100–S, I– 9039) suggest a Late Horizon occupation for all three burials. However, the carbon samples were not directly associated with the remains; rather they were extracted from undifferentiated midden deposits in the general vicinity of the burials. The single Type M1a Olivella bead found in association with Burial 3 suggests that this individual was interred sometime between the beginning of the Middle Period (circa 200 B.C.) and the end of Phase 1 of the Late Period (circa A.D. 1500). The Type G2b Olivella beads, while not definitively associated with Burials 2 and 5, are temporally diagnostic for the timespan between the Early/Middle E:\FR\FM\22SEN1.SGM 22SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44448-44450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20294]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0023936; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, NE

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District (Omaha 
District), 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 Omaha 
District. 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 Omaha District at the 
address in this notice by October 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Sandra Barnum, U.S. Army Engineer District, Omaha, ATTN: 
CENWO-PM-AB, 1616 Capital Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102, telephone, (402) 
995-2674, email sandra.v.barnum@usace.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby 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 Omaha District, Omaha, NE., 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.

[[Page 44449]]

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    Between 1965 and 1968, two cultural items were removed from the 
Fort Manuel site (39CO5), Corson County, SD, and are presently located 
at the South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center (SARC), under 
the managerial control of the Omaha District. Between 1965 and 1966, G. 
Hubert Smith recovered human remains (Individual 2) and associated 
funerary objects. In 1968, J.J. Hoffman and R.B. Johnson, SIRBS, 
recovered the human remains of two other individuals (Individuals 1 and 
3) and associated funerary objects consisting of wood fragments. The 
human remains were stored at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln until 
1986, when they were moved to SARC. In 1987, the University of 
Tennessee-Knoxville received the human remains and conducted an 
inventory before returning them to SARC in 1988. The human remains were 
housed at SARC until May 20, 1994, when they were repatriated to the 
Cheyenne River Sioux with the wood fragments. The remaining two 
unassociated funerary objects are two bear proximal phalanges that 
records show were originally collected with Individual 2.
    The Fort Manuel site (39CO5) is a multi-component site on a narrow 
terrace above the confluence of the Missouri River and Hunkpapa Creek, 
and was most likely occupied during the Middle Missouri Tradition (900-
1500), Extended (1500-1675), Post-contact Coalescent (1675-1780), and 
Historic period (post-1800). Fort Manuel was established at the 
location as a trading post by the Missouri Fur Company in 1812 and 
abandoned in 1813. A journal kept by a Company clerk at Fort Manuel 
states that two Company men, one Native American man, and two Native 
American women died during the winter of 1812-1813, indicating a 
Historic period occupation. None of the individuals recovered from the 
site can be tied to the journal with any certainty. Individual 1 was 
found with wood fragments, possibly either coffin or wood slab 
fragments, which indicates either a Lakota affiliation (post-1868) or 
an Arikara affiliation (1500-1780). Individual 2 was placed on a 
scaffold then later buried, indicating an Arikara affiliation. 
Individual 3 was found on the surface of the site indicating a Historic 
period occupation and affiliated with the Lakota or Arikara. Mortuary 
practices of the Individual 2 as well as historic documentation 
indicate the human remains are most likely affiliated with the Arikara.
    In August of 1979, 24 cultural items were removed from the Bergner 
site (39BR36), Brule County, SD, and are presently located at the South 
Dakota State Archaeological Research Center (SARC), under the 
managerial control of the Omaha District. The Bergner site is a burial 
site on a flat terrace above Lake Francis Case, south of Chamberlain, 
SD, and was discovered in August of 1979 by Mr. Lawrence Bergner. The 
human remains were eroding out of the bank and Mr. Bergner reported it 
to local authorities, who collected the human remains and 24 funerary 
objects. The human remains were then released to Timothy R. Nowak, Corp 
of Engineers field archeologist, who assessed the site but did no 
further excavations. At least 4 sets of human remains were recovered. 
The funerary objects were turned over to SARC in 1981. The human 
remains remained with the Corps of Engineers until some time prior to 
1990, when they were reburied at site 39ST15 on the Missouri River. The 
excavation records show the funerary items as having been removed from 
the burial of a specific individual from site 39BR36. The 24 
unassociated funerary objects are 16 burned clay fragments; 4 ceramic 
rim sherds (Iona Indented and La Roche, Wheeler); 2 bison horn cores; 1 
skunk humerus; and 1 lot of wood fragments.
    The Bergner site (39BR36) is a burial site that was most likely 
occupied between 1550 and 1675, dating to the Extended Variant of the 
Coalescent tradition. The archeological community associates the 
pottery types with the Extended Variant of the Coalescent tradition. 
Populations associated with the Coalescent tradition within this area 
and time frame are believed to be ancestral to the Arikara, therefore 
the unassociated funerary objects are most likely affiliated with the 
Arikara.
    In approximately 1975, 31 cultural items were collected from the 
Oacoma Village site (39LM26), Lyman County, SD, and are presently 
located at the South Dakota State Archaeological Research Center 
(SARC), under the managerial control of the Omaha District. The Oacoma 
Village site is a large village on a low terrace above the Missouri 
River and was excavated around 1975 by an unknown individual. At least 
two sets of human remains were recovered. In 1978, the human remains 
were discovered during an inventory at SARC in 1978. It is unclear how 
the remains came to be at SARC. In the same year, the University of 
Tennessee-Knoxville received the human remains and conducted an 
inventory before returning them to South Dakota in 1986. The human 
remains were then reburied at site 39ST15 on the Missouri River. SARC 
records show the funerary items as having been removed from the burial 
of a specific individual from site 39LM26. The 31 unassociated funerary 
objects are 13 ceramic rim sherds; 10 ceramic body sherds; 1 bison 
mandible; 1 modified bison rib tool; 1 biface knife; 1 biface core; 1 
plate chalcedony knife; 1 utilized chert flake; 1 thinning flake; and 1 
spokeshave.
    The Oacoma Village site (39LM26) is a large village that was most 
likely occupied during several components between 1500 and 1862, all 
variants of the Coalescent tradition. The entire Oacoma Village site 
encompasses a large area that was previously three sites, Oacoma 
Village I (39LM24), Oacoma Village II (39LM26), and Oacoma Village III 
(39LM27). The three sites were later combined and considered Oacoma 
Village (39LM26) when excavated by Marvin F. Kivett, Smithsonian 
Institute River Basin Survey, between 1951 and 1952, and prior to the 
discovery of the burials in 1975. The village was comprised of 40-50 
houses. The Oacoma Village site that was excavated by Kivett included 
ceramic pottery types that are associated with a Post Contact 
Coalescent tradition (1675-1780) occupation. The rim sherds found with 
the burials in 1975 represent pottery types found in three different 
periods, Extended Coalescent tradition, Post Contact Coalescent 
tradition, and the Disorganized Coalescent tradition. These three 
periods are known for primary inhumations, which researchers believe 
was done for the two sets of human remains. Populations associated with 
the Coalescent tradition within this area and time frame are believed 
to be ancestral to the Arikara, therefore the unassociated funerary 
objects are likely affiliated with the Arikara.
    The Arikara are represented today by the Three Affiliated Tribes of 
the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota. Consultation with the 
Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota, 
indicates that these kinds of funerary objects are placed with 
individuals at the time of death.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

    Officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 57 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

[[Page 44450]]

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 identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the 
Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.

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 Ms. Sandra Barnum, U.S. Army Engineer 
District, Omaha, ATTN: CENWO-PM-AB, 1616 Capital Avenue, Omaha, NE 
68102, telephone, (402) 995-2674, email sandra.v.barnum@usace.army.mil, 
by October 23, 2017. After that date, if no additional claimants have 
come forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects 
to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North 
Dakota, may proceed.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, is responsible 
for notifying the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold 
Reservation, North Dakota, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 2, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-20294 Filed 9-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

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