Notice of Inventory Completion: State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 5026-5028 [2020-01352]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5026-5028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01352]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0029328; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: State University of New York at 
Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The State University of New York at Buffalo has completed an 
inventory of human remains, 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 not 
identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request to the State 
University of New York at Buffalo. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the

[[Page 5027]]

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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the State 
University of New York at Buffalo at the address in this notice by 
February 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Douglas J. Perrelli, Ph.D., RPA, University at Buffalo, 380 
MFAC, Ellicott Complex, Buffalo, NY 14261, telephone (716) 645-2297, 
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 State University 
of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY. The human remains were removed 
from sites in Jefferson and Onondaga Counties, NY.
    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 SUNY at 
Buffalo professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Oneida Indian Nation (previously listed as the Oneida Nation of New 
York) and the Onondaga Nation.

History and Description of the Cultural Item(s)

    In 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Bolio site near Watertown, NY. The human remains 
were recovered during excavation of a gravel pit near the Jefferson 
County Highway Department building. Incorporation of the human remains 
into the museum's collection was not documented. The human remains 
include upper and lower limb fragments, rib and vertebral fragments, 
and bones from the pelvic region. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the Carlos site in Watertown, NY. The human remains 
were removed during excavations by the archeological field crew at the 
University at Buffalo, and were subsequently incorporated into the 
museum's collection. The human remains include a zygomatic fragment 
(small bone found on the face) and one upper central incisor from one 
context, and a small bone fragment found in the topsoil. Museum 
documents indicate the human remains date to the Late Woodland Period. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    At an unknown time, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Denman's Island site in Onondaga 
County, NY. How the museum acquired these human remains is unknown. The 
human remains include rib fragments, fragments from bones of the feet, 
and other small bone fragments. Records indicate they came from a 
Middle-Late Woodland Camp Site. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1969, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Durham site near Rutland, NY. The human remains 
were recovered during a University at Buffalo field school excavation. 
The human remains include one molar. The molar was removed from a non-
burial context. According to records, the site was a Late Woodland 
Iroquois village. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1968, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Ellisburg Town Barn site in Ellisburg, NY. The 
human remains were recovered by University at Buffalo archeologists in 
a surface collection during construction of the Ellisburg Town Barn. 
The human remains include long bone (limb) fragments and a tooth 
fragment. Some documents indicate the human remains may be dated prior 
to European contact. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1966, human remains representing, at minimum, eight individuals 
were removed from the Jamesville Lake site in Lafayette Township, NY. 
No documentation explaining how the University at Buffalo came to 
acquire these human remains exists. Some of these individuals are 
represented by nearly complete skeletons, while others are represented 
by only a small number of bones. This site dates to the late 17th 
century (according to James Tuck's 1971 Onondaga Iroquois Prehistory). 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    In 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the Cronk/Morse/Dry Hill site near Watertown, NY. The 
human remains were recovered during test excavations by the University 
at Buffalo archeological field crew. The human remains include a worked 
skull fragment from one context, as well as a partial distal humerus, 
two long bone shaft fragments, a scapula, rib fragments, and other 
fragmented bone pieces. Records indicate the site dates from the Late 
Woodland through Contact Periods. No known individuals were identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1968, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals 
were removed from the Potocki site in Ellisburg, NY. The human remains 
were recovered during excavation led by University at Buffalo 
archeologist Marian E. White. The human remains include an almost 
complete skeleton documented as `Burial 1', a number of fragmentary 
long bone, teeth, rib, and cranial bones labelled as `Burial 2', a 
human tooth from `Test Area 8, Unit 3' representing Burial 3, and four 
fragmented human teeth representing Burial 4. Museum documents indicate 
the site was an Iroquoian Late Woodland Village Site. Two radiocarbon 
dates (one from charred vegetable fragments the other from charcoal) 
provided dates of A.D. 1830 and 1475. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In either 1966 or 1968, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Whitford site in Rodman, NY. Museum 
records indicate that a midden was excavated at this site in 1966, and 
that University at Buffalo archeologist Marian E. White and a crew of 
other archeologists partially excavated the site in July and August of 
1968. The human remains include one molar tooth crown. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    The human remains from these nine sites are determined to be 
affiliated with the Oneida Indian Nation (previously listed as the 
Oneida Nation of New York) and the Onondaga Nation. Affiliation was 
determined by comparing precise geographic locations of each site with 
the `Indian Nation Areas of Interest' map which was prepared by the New 
York State Historic Preservation Office in consultation with

[[Page 5028]]

the Indian Nations of New York State in August 2014. This determination 
further was supported by consultation with both nations.

Determinations Made by the State University of New York at Buffalo

    Officials of the State University of New York at Buffalo have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 21 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 the Oneida Indian Nation (previously listed 
as the Oneida Nation of New York) and the Onondaga Nation.

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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Douglas 
J. Perrelli, Ph.D., RPA, University at Buffalo, 380 MFAC, Ellicott 
Complex, Buffalo, NY 14261, telephone 716.645.2297, email 
[email protected], by February 27, 2020. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Oneida Indian Nation (previously listed as the 
Oneida Nation of New York) and the Onondaga Nation may proceed.
    The State University of New York at Buffalo is responsible for 
notifying the Oneida Indian Nation (previously listed as the Oneida 
Nation of New York) and the Onondaga Nation that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: November 14, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-01352 Filed 1-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P