Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Nebraska State Historical Society, DBA History Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 22257-22258 [2021-08770]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22257-22258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08770]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0031778; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Nebraska State 
Historical Society, DBA History Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: History Nebraska, 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 History Nebraska. 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 History Nebraska at the address 
in this notice by May 27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Rob Bozell, History Nebraska, 5050 N 32nd Street, Lincoln, 
NE 68504, telephone (402) 525-1624, 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. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of History Nebraska, Lincoln, 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.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    In 1930 and 1939, 12 cultural items were removed from cemeteries 
associated with the Linwood site (25BU1) in Butler County, NE. These 
objects were recovered during archeological excavations by the Nebraska 
State Historical Society. The 12 unassociated funerary objects are 
small geological samples extracted from pipestone smoking pipes that 
had been recovered from graves. The pipes themselves were repatriated 
to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma in 1990-1991.
    The Linwood site was occupied by the Pawnee (mostly the Grand Band) 
intermittently during the period 1750s-1809 and 1850-1853, based on 
archeological and ethnohistorical information, as well as oral 
traditional information provided by the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
    In 1940, four cultural items were removed from a cemetery 
identified as the Burial Ridge site (25HM2) in Hamilton County, NE. The 
site might also be a Pawnee sacred place. These objects were recovered 
during archeological excavations by the Nebraska State Historical 
Society. The four unassociated funerary objects are three shell beads 
and one piece of wood. The objects were most likely dislodged from 
graves through natural processes. There are no other archeological 
features on this landform other than graves. Human skeletal remains and 
associated funerary objects from this site were repatriated to the 
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma in 1990-1991.
    The Burial Ridge site is clearly associated with the Pawnee, based 
on archeological and ethnohistorical information, as well as oral 
traditional information provided by members of the Pawnee Nation of 
Oklahoma.
    In 1960, 1966, and 1970, 353 cultural items were removed from 
cemeteries associated with the Genoa site (25NC6/20) in Nance County, 
NE. These objects were recovered during archeological excavations by 
the Nebraska State Historical Society in response to construction 
impacts. The 353 objects are listed as having been removed from `burial 
areas.' They had been disturbed and scattered by construction 
equipment. Human skeletal remains and associated funerary objects from 
this site were repatriated to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma in 1990-
1991. The 353 unassociated funerary objects are: Five animal bones, 13 
metal bells, one bone utensil handle, three bottle glass fragments, one 
bridle bit, one metal buckle, one bullet mold, three buttons, 25 
chipped stone flakes, one chipped stone projectile point, 14 chipped 
stone scrapers, four cloth/felt fragments, five thin cut glass 
fragments, seven ear bobs, four Euroamerican ceramic sherds, one 
Euroamerican pipe fragment, one French gunflint, one glass fragment, 67 
glass beads, one chipped glass scraper, four ground stone tools, two 
gun parts, one hammerstone, three iron kettle handles, one iron 
projectile point, one metal coil, nine metal finger rings, three nails, 
85 native-made ceramic bodysherds, 12 native-made ceramic rimsherds, 
four ocher/pigment fragments, nine leather fragments, 28 scrap metal 
fragments, 20 seeds, three spoons, one thimble, five tinkling cones, 
and three wood fragments.
    The Genoa site was the last major earthlodge village of the Pawnee 
before removal to Oklahoma. It was occupied by all Pawnee bands from 
1859-1874, but it also has earlier Pawnee components dating in the 
1600s. The Genoa site is clearly associated with the Pawnee, based on 
archeological and ethnohistorical information, as well as oral 
traditional information provided by

[[Page 22258]]

members of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
    In 1940, 321 cultural items were removed from cemeteries associated 
with the Clarks site (25PK1) in Polk County, NE. These objects were 
recovered during archeological excavations by the Nebraska State 
Historical Society. The 321 objects are listed as having been recovered 
from burials but without any further attributions. Human skeletal 
remains and associated funerary objects from this site were repatriated 
to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma in 1990-1991. The 321 unassociated 
funerary objects are: 15 brass/copper bells, one brass/copper ornament, 
one bridle bit, two bullet molds, five chalk fragments, four chipped 
stone flakes, five chipped stone tools, two clasp knives, three clay 
lumps, three cloth and leather fragments, 14 cobbles/pebbles, one 
metal/fabric coil, one cradle board, 15 earbob/tinkling cones, 18 
English gunflints, one fossil antler, 32 scrap metal fragments, one 
fringed leather fragment, three gun parts, one iron axe head, one iron 
ball, three iron files, one iron fixture, one iron hoe, one iron 
projectile point, three iron rings, one kettle fragment, one large 
brass ring, two lead arrow points, nine leather straps, three metal 
bells, five metal buttons, one metal disk with cloth, one metal 
ornament, seven metal rings, two metal tubes, one lead musket ball, 
three mussel shells, one nail, 63 ochre/pigment fragments, two 
pipestone pipes, one pocket knife, one pronghorn toe bone, one raptor 
wing bone, one reed matting fragment, 22 reed fragments, 17 sandstone 
abraders, one sandstone pipe, one sheet brass/copper fragment, one 
shell bead, three tinkling cones, one vegetal fragment, six vegetal 
pieces with adhering leather fragments, one white clay pipestem, 15 
white clay pipestem beads, one wood fragment with adhering leather, six 
wood fragments, one wooden bow segment, and one wooden bowl with cloth.
    The Clarks site was occupied by the Pawnee (mostly the Grand Band) 
from 1823-1849. The Clarks site is clearly associated with the Pawnee 
Nation of Oklahoma, based on archeological and ethnohistorical 
information, as well as oral traditional information provided by 
members of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.
    In 1941, four cultural items were removed from cemeteries 
associated with the Pike Pawnee site (25WT1) in Webster County, NE. 
These objects were recovered during archeological excavations by the 
Nebraska State Historical Society. The four objects are listed as 
having been recovered from burials but without any further 
attributions. Human skeletal remains and associated funerary objects 
from this site were repatriated to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma in 
1990-1991. The four unassociated funerary objects are three soil 
samples and one flintlock rifle.
    This village was occupied by the Kitkahaki Band of the Pawnee from 
about 1775 to 1809, based on archeological and ethnohistorical 
information, as well as oral traditional information provided by 
members of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by History Nebraska

    Officials of History Nebraska have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 694 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 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 Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.

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 Rob Bozell, History Nebraska, 5050 N 32nd 
Street, Lincoln, NE 68504, telephone (402) 525-1624, email 
[email protected], by May 27, 2021. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma may 
proceed.
    History Nebraska is responsible for notifying the Pawnee Nation of 
Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 19, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-08770 Filed 4-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P