Notice of Inventory Completion: Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 50675-50677 [2017-23793]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 210 (Wednesday, November 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50675-50677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23793]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024125: PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Human Remains Repository, 
Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, 
University of Wyoming, 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 no cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. 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 to the Human Remains 
Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: 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 Human Remains Repository, Department of 
Anthropology, University of Wyoming, at the address in this notice by 
December 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Rick L. Weathermon, Curator, Human Remains Repository, 
Department 3431, Anthropology, 1000 East University Avenue, University 
of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, telephone (307) 314-2035, email 
[email protected].

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 the Human Remains 
Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, 
WY. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from 
multiple counties in the State of Wyoming.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 Human 
Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, 
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Arapaho 
Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming. The Assiniboine and Sioux 
Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana; Cheyenne River 
Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Creek 
Sioux Tribe of the Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota; Flandreau 
Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the 
Lower Brule Reservation, South Dakota; Lower Sioux Indian Community in 
the State of Minnesota; Oglala Sioux Tribe (previously listed as the 
Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota); 
Prairie Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota; Rosebud 
Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota; Santee 
Sioux Nation, Nebraska; Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of 
Minnesota; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, 
South Dakota; Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota; Standing Rock Sioux 
Tribe of North & South Dakota; Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota; and 
Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota were invited to consult, but did 
not participate.

History and Description of the Remains

    At some time prior to 1976, human remains representing, at minimum, 
three individuals were removed from the area of Pumpkin Buttes in 
Campbell County, WY, by members of the Wyoming Archaeological Society, 
Sheridan Chapter. In 1998, the

[[Page 50676]]

fragmentary human remains were transferred to the Human Remains 
Repository as HR251a-c, and represent three Native American individuals 
consisting of one male, over 40 years old, one female, 18-22 years old, 
and one male, approximately 14 years old. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1984, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Rawhide site (48CA509) in Campbell County, WY, by 
the Wyoming State Archaeological Survey Office. The fragmentary human 
remains are recorded as HR145 in the Human Remains Repository records 
and represent a Native American child, about 8 years old, of 
undetermined sex. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    At some time prior to 1970, human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual, were removed from a site located about 35 miles north 
and slightly east of Douglas in Converse County, WY, by unknown 
individuals. The human remains were kept at the Pioneer Museum in 
Douglas until 1975, when they were transferred to the Human Remains 
Repository. The fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR018 in the 
Human Remains Repository records and represent a Native American male, 
approximately 34-40 years old. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1986, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from the Antelope Coal Mine permit area (site 48CO481) in 
Converse County, WY. The human remains have been housed at the Human 
Remains Repository since that time. The fragmentary human remains are 
recorded as HR0111 in the Human Remains Repository records and 
represent a Native American female, 18-21 years old. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1988, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from site 48CO1432 in Converse County, WY, by the Wyoming 
State Archaeological Survey Office. The human remains have been housed 
at the Human Remains Repository since that time. The fragmentary human 
remains are recorded as HR144 in the Human Remains Repository records 
and represent a Native American male, over 50 years old. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At some time prior to 1986, human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual, were removed from a location near the town of Shawnee 
in Converse County, WY, by the landowner. The human remains have been 
housed at the Human Remains Repository since that time. The human 
remains are recorded as HR0152 in the Human Remains Repository records 
and represent a Native American male, over 50 years old. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At some time in the mid-1980s, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual, were removed from an unknown location in 
Converse County, WY, by the Converse County Sheriff's Office. The 
remains have been housed at the Human Remains Repository since that 
time. The fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR155 in the Human 
Remains Repository records and represent a Native American individual 
of undetermined sex, over 40 years old. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At some time during the early 1970s, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual, were removed from an unknown site near Bill in 
Converse County, WY, by the Converse County Sheriff's Office. The human 
remains were transferred to the Human Remains Repository in 2010. The 
fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR0282 in the Human Remains 
Repository records and represent an adult Native American male. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1997, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from an unknown site in Converse County, WY, by the 
Converse County Sheriff's Office. The human remains were transferred to 
the Human Remains Repository in 2010. The fragmentary human remains are 
recorded as HR0300 in the Human Remains Repository records and 
represent an adult Native American male. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1974, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from the Bishop Ranch in Crook County, WY, by the 
landowner. The human remains were given to the Rockpile Museum in 
Gillette, who transferred them to the Human Remains Repository in 1996. 
The human remains are recorded as DB052 in the Human Remains Repository 
records and represent a Native male, over 60 years old. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1983, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from a location south of Keyhole Reservoir in Crook 
County, WY, by the Crook County Sheriff's Office and then transferred 
to the Human Remains Repository in 1984. The fragmentary human remains 
are recorded as FC044 in the Human Remains Repository records and 
represent a Native American female, over 50 years old. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1881, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from the area of Rifle Pit Road in Crook County, WY, by 
unknown individuals. The human remains were given to the Sundance 
Museum in 1975, and transferred to the Human Remains Repository in 
2009. The fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR264 in the Human 
Remains Repository records and represent a Native American young adult 
female. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1975, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from site 48GO8 near the North Platte River in Goshen 
County, WY, by University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology 
personnel and transferred to the Human Remains Repository in 
approximately 1987. The fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR043 
in the Human Remains Repository records and represent a Native American 
female, 25-27 years old. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1975, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from site 48NA67 north of Casper in Natrona County, WY, by 
University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology personnel. The human 
remains have been at the Human Remains Repository since that time and, 
based on radiocarbon dating, are between 5100 and 5500 years old. The 
fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR045 in the Human Remains 
Repository records and represent a Native American male, 50-65 years 
old. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    In 1992, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from the North Platte River drainage west of Casper in 
Natrona County, WY, by the Natrona County Sheriff's Office and 
transferred to the Human Remains Repository in 1993.

[[Page 50677]]

The fragmentary human remains are recorded as FC090 in the Human 
Remains Repository records and represent a Native American female, 22-
24 years old. No known individual was identified. The two associated 
funerary objects include one lot of glass seed trade beads and one lot 
of small leather fragments.
    In 1993, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from a location a few miles north of Casper in Natrona 
County, WY, by the Natrona County Sheriff's Office. The human remains 
have been at the Human Remains Repository since that time. The 
fragmentary human remains are recorded as FC107 in the Human Remains 
Repository records and represent a Native American child, of 
indeterminate sex, 8-9 years old. No known individual was identified. 
The one associated funerary object consists of a bison bone fragment.
    At some time prior to the 1970s, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual, were removed from an unknown location and 
given to the Casper, WY, Police Department. The human remains had been 
in the police department evidence lockup from 30 to over 40 years. No 
other provenience information is available. In 2009, the human remains 
were accessioned into the University of Wyoming Human Remains 
Repository. The fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR263 in the 
Human Remains Repository records and represent a Native American older 
adult male. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 1956, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from site 48NO2 about 8 miles southwest of Lusk in 
Niobrara County, WY, by Wyoming State Museum personnel and transferred 
to the University of Wyoming Anthropology Department in 1983. 
Additional associated remains were located in the State Museum in 1995 
and transferred to University of Wyoming, Anthropology, in 1996. The 
fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR110 in the Human Remains 
Repository records and represent a Native American male, 50-65 years of 
age. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    At some time prior to 1971, human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual, were removed from site 48WE34, about 4 miles south 
southeast of Upton, Weston County, WY, by the landowner and given to 
the University of Wyoming Anthropology Department in 1971. The 
fragmentary human remains are recorded as HR007 in the Human Remains 
Repository records and represent a Native American female, 50-65 years 
old. No known individual was identified. The two associated funerary 
objects include a bone awl fragment and small piece of hematite.
    At some time in the 1930s, human remains representing, at minimum, 
one individual, were removed from site 48WE487, about 7 miles west of 
the Wyoming-South Dakota state line, in Weston County, WY, by a 
sheepherder. The human remains have been at the University of Wyoming 
Anthropology Department since the mid-1980s. The fragmentary human 
remains are recorded as HR203 in the Human Remains Repository records 
and represent a possible Native American, approximately 20 years of 
age, of indeterminate sex. No known individual was identified. The 42 
associated funerary objects include 42 red ocher-stained non-diagnostic 
bifacial stone tools.
    In 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from a location approximately two miles north of Newcastle 
in Weston County, WY, by Weston County Sherriff's Department personnel 
and stored at the Anna Miller Museum in Newcastle until 1992, when they 
were transferred to the University of Wyoming Anthropology Department. 
The fragmentary human remains are recorded as FC008 in the Human 
Remains Repository records and represent a Native American male, 48-60 
years old. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Human Remains Repository, Department of 
Anthropology, University of Wyoming

    Officials of the Human Remains Repository, Department of 
Anthropology, University of Wyoming have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on features of the skeletal 
elements or their archeological contexts.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 23 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 47 funerary 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), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian Tribe.
     According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Wyoming.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Arapaho 
Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    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. Rick 
L. Weathermon, Curator, Human Remains Repository, Department 3431, 
Anthropology, 1000 East University Avenue, University of Wyoming, 
Laramie, WY 82071, telephone (307) 314-2035, email [email protected], by 
December 1, 2017. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming, may proceed.
    The Human Remains Repository, Department of Anthropology, 
University of Wyoming, is responsible for notifying the Arapaho Tribe 
of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: September 8, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-23793 Filed 10-31-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P