Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, 46039 [2019-18855]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 46039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18855]



[[Page 46039]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028707; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Department of Anthropology, 
University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska Anchorage 
has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
object, 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 object 
and 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 and associated funerary 
object should submit a written request to the Department of 
Anthropology, University of Alaska Anchorage. If no additional 
requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and 
associated funerary object 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 object should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Department of Anthropology, University of 
Alaska Anchorage at the address in this notice by October 3, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Dr. John Stalvey, Interim Provost, University of Alaska 
Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, telephone (907) 
786-1050, 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 object under the control of the Department of 
Anthropology, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK. The human 
remains and associated funerary object were removed from Point Hope, 
North Slope Borough, 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 Alaska 
Native human remains. 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 
Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska Anchorage professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Native Village of 
Point Hope.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Point Hope in the North Slope Borough, AK. The human 
remains, consisting of nine bones, were collected from the surface of 
the ground near the airstrip in Point Hope, AK. No known individuals 
were identified. The one associated funerary object is a caribou 
metapodial (caribou lower leg bone).
    Point Hope, or Tikigaq, has been occupied for at least 2000 years, 
recent dates extend the occupation even earlier. This spit of land 
includes the sites of Tikigaq, Ipiutak, and Jabbertown, and the modern 
town of Point Hope. Because the ground is frozen much of the year, and 
the spit is a gravel bar, the dead were placed on the ground surface. 
Human elements frequently appear on the surface in the old town of 
Tikigaq, at the end of the airport runway. Oral tradition and 
archeological evidence identify the human remains as Inupiat.
    The Inupiat are descendants of the original people of Point Hope 
(Tiki[gdot]aq), and still live there today. They are represented by the 
present-day Native Village of Point Hope.

Determinations Made by the Department of Anthropology, University of 
Alaska Anchorage

    Officials of the Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska 
Anchorage have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Alaska Native ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object described 
in this notice is 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 Alaska 
Native human remains and associated funerary objects and the Native 
Village of Point Hope.

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 object, should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. John Stalvey, Interim Provost, University 
of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, 
telephone (907) 786-1050, email [email protected], by October 3, 
2019. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary object 
to the Native Village of Point Hope may proceed.
    The Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska Anchorage is 
responsible for notifying the Native Village of Point Hope that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: August 13, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-18855 Filed 8-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P