Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 47514-47516 [2021-18273]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 25, 2021 / Notices
Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana;
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Jena
Band of Choctaw Indians; Miami Tribe
of Oklahoma; Mississippi Band of
Choctaw Indians; Quapaw Nation
[previously listed as The Quapaw Tribe
of Indians]; The Chickasaw Nation; The
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The
Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and The
Osage Nation [previously listed as Osage
Tribe] (hereafter referred to as ‘‘The
Tribes’’).
History and Description of the Remains
On June 11, 2020, human remains
representing, at minimum, one
individual was removed from Hancock
County, MS. The individual was
discovered during maintenance
dredging of the navigation channel at
the mouth of Bayou Cadet, which flows
into the Bay of Saint Louis. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, which
oversaw the dredging, retained control
of the human remains until May of
2021, when it transferred them to the
Mississippi Department of Archives and
History. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
The Mississippi Department of
Archives and History has determined
that the remains of this individual are
Native American through the
geographical and archeological
circumstances of their discovery, as well
as through the observance of biological
markers that are consistent with Native
American ancestry. According to the
geographical and archeological
evidence, the individual was removed
within 500 feet of the Lakeshore Midden
Site (22HA502), which dates within the
Woodland Period (A.D. 1000).
Evaluation of the skeletal elements by
the Mississippi State Medical
Examiner’s office concluded that they
bore biological markers consistent with
Native American ancestry. The presentday Indian Tribes affiliated with the
earlier group connected to these human
remains include The Tribes.
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Determinations Made by the
Mississippi Department of Archives
and History
Officials of the Mississippi
Department of Archives and History
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 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 Tribes.
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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 Meg Cook,
Director of Archaeology Collections,
Mississippi Department of Archives and
History, Museum Division, 222 North
Street, P.O. Box 571, Jackson, MS 39205,
telephone (601) 576–6927, email
mcook@mdah.ms.gov, by September 24,
2021. After that date, if no additional
requestors have come forward, transfer
of control of the human remains to The
Tribes may proceed.
The Mississippi Department of
Archives and History is responsible for
notifying The Tribes that this notice has
been published.
Dated: August 11, 2021.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021–18271 Filed 8–24–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0032471;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion:
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The University of Michigan
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 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 objects should submit a written
request to the University of Michigan. 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
SUMMARY:
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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 University of Michigan at
the address in this notice by September
24, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project
Manager, University of Michigan, Office
of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503
Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI
48109–1340, telephone (734) 647–9085,
email bsecunda@umich.edu.
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
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
The human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from the
Riverside Cemetery site (20ME1),
Menominee County, MI.
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 University of
Michigan Museum of Anthropological
Archaeology (UMMAA) professional
staff in consultation with
representatives of the Hannahville
Indian Community, Michigan;
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community,
Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of
Michigan; Little Shell Tribe of
Chippewa Indians of Montana; Match-ebe-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi
Indians of Michigan; Menominee Indian
Tribe of Wisconsin; Minnesota
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Mille Lacs
Band); Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the
Potawatomi, Michigan [previously listed
as Huron Potawatomi, Inc.]; and the
Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians,
Michigan and Indiana (hereafter referred
to as ‘‘The Consulted Tribes’’).
The Bad River Band of the Lake
Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of
the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin;
Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky
Boy’s Reservation, Montana [previously
listed as Chippewa-Cree Indians of the
Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Montana];
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 25, 2021 / Notices
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Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma;
Forest County Potawatomi Community,
Wisconsin; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of
Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the
Lac du Flambeau Reservation of
Wisconsin; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe,
Minnesota (Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake);
Fond du Lac Band; Grand Portage Band;
Leech Lake Band; White Earth Band);
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
[previously listed as Prairie Band of
Potawatomi Nation, Kansas]; Quechan
Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian
Reservation, California & Arizona; Red
Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Indians of Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of
Chippewa Indians, Minnesota;
Sokaogon Chippewa Community,
Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa Indians
of Wisconsin; and the Turtle Mountain
Band of Chippewa Indians of North
Dakota were invited to consult but did
not participate (hereafter referred to as
‘‘The Invited Tribes’’).
History and Description of the Remains
In 1956–57, human remains
representing, at minimum, nine
individuals were removed from the
Riverside Cemetery site (20ME1) in
Menominee County, MI, by UMMAA
archeologist A.C. Spaulding. Spaulding
excavated the multi-component site,
and it was later excavated by others on
multiple occasions (the UMMAA does
not possess all of the human remains
and items excavated from the Riverside
Cemetery site. The human remains
belong to one child 5–9 years old, of
indeterminate sex; one cremated young
adult 17–19 years old, of indeterminate
sex; one adult male 30+ years old; one
adult of indeterminate sex; one
cremated infant; and four cremated
adults of indeterminate sex. No known
individuals were identified. The 25
associated funerary objects are one lot of
small, white perforated flat beads; one
lot of conical copper points; one lot of
small, flat, and irregular-shaped copper
fragments; one lot of faunal bone
fragments and charcoal; one lot of
shouldered projectile points; one lot of
copper points/cones; one lot of small,
heavy copper fragments; one lot of
projectile point tip fragments; one lot of
faunal bone fragments, bark fragments,
and red ochre; one lot of large, red
ochre-stained obsidian cores; one lot of
copper beads and bark fragments; one
lot of red ochre-stained flint scrapers
and flakes; one lot of red ochre-stained
rounded whetstones; one lot of copper
awls; one lot of socketed copper spears;
one lot of flat-stemmed or fish-tailed
copper projectile points; one lot of red
ochre-covered chert projectile points;
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one lot of wood fragments; one lot of red
ochre-covered beaver tooth fragments;
one lot of red ochre-coated wood and
bone fragments; one lot of red ochreand copper-stained faunal bone
fragments; one lot of dog cranium
fragments with vials of red ochre; one
lot of red ochre-stained and perforated
lynx scapula fragments; one lot of flatstemmed copper projectile points and
wood fragments; and one lot of red
ochre-stained faunal scapulae.
The Riverside Cemetery site has
evidence of occupation dating from the
Late Archaic (2550–300 B.C.) through
the Late Woodland Period (A.D. 500–
1100). Two components—Features 6
and 14—are associated with burials
belonging to the Old Copper Culture of
the Late Archaic/Early Woodland
Period, based on diagnostic artifacts.
Three different burial treatments were
noted at the site: Cremations, burial in
red ochre, and burial without ochre.
Feature 6 contained a flexed burial with
red ochre and copper points. The
cranium of a dog was found near the
pelvis of the individual. Ochre covered
the entire skeleton, but was thicker over
the head and legs, in a lens suggesting
the body was wrapped in a skin or bark.
A bundle was found with flints, beaver
teeth, antler shaft wrench, copper
points, flint points, wood, animal bone,
and a smoothing stone. Feature 2, which
was located near Feature 6, was
identified by red ochre staining.
Cremated human remains were present
that were disturbed and incomplete.
Above this cremation were several cordmarked pottery sherds as well as a
fluted axe however the association
between these objects and the burial is
described as uncertain due to the
distance of the objects from the human
remains. Excavation Unit 4 was reported
as badly disintegrated bone. The human
remains were cremated and calcined.
Feature 13, a disturbed pit containing
calcined bones, contained no artifacts.
Feature 14 contained ochre-stained sand
in a pit. At the bottom of the pit was a
large block of obsidian resting on
strands of heavy copper beads which
were wrapped in bark. Beneath the
obsidian and copper beads was a pile of
crushed cremated bones deposited on
top of bark which lined the bottom of
the pit. The bark was noted by the
fibrous structures in organic material;
however, it was too fragile to collect.
The strands of copper beads appeared to
loop back and forth upon the cremated
bones. Features 11 and 12 were two pits
that came together, both containing red
ochre and small fragments of human
bone and a conical copper point.
The human remains have been
determined to be Native American
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based on dental traits, mortuary
treatment, diagnostic artifacts, and
archeological context. A relationship of
shared group identity can be reasonably
traced between the Native American
human remains from this site and the
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.
Menominee tribal experts provided
evidence for cultural affiliation based on
their long-standing presence in the
Menominee River Valley, which they
believe establishes ties of territorial
ethnicity to these burials. Museum
experts believe the burials are
associated with Old Copper Culture
which geographically includes, but
reaches beyond, the Menominee River
Valley. However, tribal experts also
provided information that suggests there
were regional variations within Old
Copper Culture, and this pattern points
toward an association between these
particular burials and the Menominee
traditional homelands. After
considering the best available
information, and in light of the
preponderance of the evidence
threshold required under the law and
regulations, the determination was
made that the totality of the various
lines of evidence suggest the
Menominee are culturally affiliated with
these particular burials.
Determinations Made by the University
of Michigan
Officials of the University of Michigan
have determined that:
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the
human remains described in this notice
represent the physical remains of nine
individuals of Native American
ancestry.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A),
the 25 objects 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 Native American human
remains and associated funerary objects
and the Menominee Indian Tribe of
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. Ben Secunda,
NAGPRA Project Manager, University of
Michigan, Office of Research, 4080
Fleming Building, 503 Thompson
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 162 / Wednesday, August 25, 2021 / Notices
Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109–1340,
telephone (734) 647–9085, email
bsecunda@umich.edu, by September 24,
2021. After that date, if no additional
requestors have come forward, transfer
of control of the human remains and
associated funerary objects to the
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
may proceed.
The University of Michigan is
responsible for notifying The Consulted
Tribes and The Invited Tribes that this
notice has been published.
Dated: August 18, 2021.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021–18273 Filed 8–24–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–NERO–CHHO–32133; PPNCCHOHS0–
PPMPSPD1Z.YM0000]
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National
Historical Park Commission Request
for Nominations
National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Request for nominations.
AGENCY:
The National Park Service,
U.S. Department of the Interior, is
requesting nominations for qualified
persons to serve as members of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National
Historical Park Commission
(Commission).
SUMMARY:
Written nominations must be
received by October 25, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send nominations to:
Mackensie Henn, Assistant to the
Superintendent, Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal National Historical Park, 142 W
Potomac Street, Williamsport, Maryland
21795, or by email choh_information@
nps.gov.
DATES:
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mackensie Henn, by email choh_
information@nps.gov or telephone at
(240) 520–3135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Commission was established by section
6 of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Development Act (16 U.S.C. 410y–4)
and terminated January 8, 2011. The
Commission has been extended by
Public Law 113–178 and the new
termination date is September 26, 2024.
The purpose of the Commission is to
meet and consult with the Secretary of
the Interior (Secretary), or the
Secretary’s designee, on general policies
and specific matters related to the
administration and development of the
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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National
Historical Park.
The Commission shall be composed
of 19 members appointed by the
Secretary for 5-year terms as follows: (1)
Eight members to be appointed from
recommendations submitted by the
boards of commissioners or the county
councils, as the case may be, of
Montgomery, Frederick, Washington,
and Allegany Counties, Maryland, of
which two members shall be appointed
from recommendations submitted by
each such board or council, as the case
may be; (2) Eight members to be
appointed from recommendations
submitted by the Governor of the State
of Maryland, the Governor of the State
of West Virginia, the Governor of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and the
Mayor of the District of Columbia, of
which two members shall be appointed
from recommendations submitted by
each such Governor or Mayor, as the
case may be; and (3) Three members to
be appointed by the Secretary, one of
whom shall be designated Chairman of
the Commission and two of who shall
be members of regularly constituted
conservation organizations.
We are currently seeking members to
represent all categories.
Some members may be appointed as
special Government employees (SGEs).
Please be aware that members selected
to serve as SGEs will be required, prior
to appointment, to file a Confidential
Financial Disclosure Report in order to
avoid involvement in real or apparent
conflicts of interest. You may find a
copy of the Confidential Financial
Disclosure Report at the following
website: https://www.doi.gov/ethics/
special-government-employees/
financial-disclosure. Additionally, after
appointment, members appointed as
SGEs will be required to meet
applicable financial disclosure and
ethics training requirements. Please
contact (202) 208–7960 or DOI_Ethics@
sol.doi.gov with any questions about the
ethics requirements for members
appointed as SGEs.
Nominations should be typed and
should include a resume providing an
adequate description of the nominee’s
qualifications, including information
that would enable the Department of the
Interior to make an informed decision
regarding meeting the membership
requirements of the Commission and
permit the Department to contact a
potential member. All documentation,
including letters of recommendation,
must be compiled and submitted in one
complete package. All those interested
in membership, including current
members whose terms are expiring,
must follow the same nomination
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process. Members may not appoint
deputies or alternates.
Members of the Commission serve
without compensation. However, while
away from their homes or regular places
of business in the performance of
services for the Commission as
approved by the NPS, members may be
allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same
manner as persons employed
intermittently in Government service
are allowed such expenses under
section 5703 of title 5 of the United
States Code.
(Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2)
Alma Ripps,
Chief, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021–18328 Filed 8–24–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–NERO–CEBE–32331; PPNECEBE00,
PPMPSPD1Z.Y00000]
Request for Nominations for the Cedar
Creek and Belle Grove National
Historical Park Advisory Commission
National Park Service, Interior.
Request for nominations.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The National Park Service
(NPS), U.S. Department of the Interior,
is requesting nominations for qualified
persons to serve as members on the
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National
Historical Park Advisory Commission
(Commission).
SUMMARY:
Written nominations must be
received by September 24, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Nominations or requests for
further information should be sent to
Karen Beck-Herzog, Site Manager, Cedar
Creek and Belle Grove National
Historical Park, P.O. Box 700,
Middletown, Virginia 22645, or via
email karen_beck-herzog@nps.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Beck-Herzog, via telephone (540)
868–0938.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cedar
Creek and Belle Grove National
Historical Park Advisory Commission
was established in accordance with the
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National
Historical Park Act of 2002 (16 U.S.C.
410iii–7). The Commission was
designated by Congress to provide
advice to the Secretary of the Interior on
the preparation and implementation of
the park’s general management plan and
in the identification of sites of
significance outside the park boundary.
DATES:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47514-47516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18273]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032471; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, MI
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The University of Michigan 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 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 objects should submit a written request
to the University of Michigan. 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 University of Michigan at the address in
this notice by September 24, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project
Manager, University of Michigan, Office of Research, 4080 Fleming
Building, 503 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone
(734) 647-9085, 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 University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human remains and associated funerary
objects were removed from the Riverside Cemetery site (20ME1),
Menominee County, MI.
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
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA)
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the
Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community,
Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of
Michigan; Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana; Match-e-
be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Menominee
Indian Tribe of Wisconsin; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Mille
Lacs Band); Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan
[previously listed as Huron Potawatomi, Inc.]; and the Pokagon Band of
Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana (hereafter referred to as
``The Consulted Tribes'').
The Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians
of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Chippewa Cree Indians of the
Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana [previously listed as Chippewa-Cree
Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana];
[[Page 47515]]
Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Forest County Potawatomi
Community, Wisconsin; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin;
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake); Fond
du Lac Band; Grand Portage Band; Leech Lake Band; White Earth Band);
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation [previously listed as Prairie Band of
Potawatomi Nation, Kansas]; Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian
Reservation, California & Arizona; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians,
Minnesota; Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa
Indians of Wisconsin; and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
of North Dakota were invited to consult but did not participate
(hereafter referred to as ``The Invited Tribes'').
History and Description of the Remains
In 1956-57, human remains representing, at minimum, nine
individuals were removed from the Riverside Cemetery site (20ME1) in
Menominee County, MI, by UMMAA archeologist A.C. Spaulding. Spaulding
excavated the multi-component site, and it was later excavated by
others on multiple occasions (the UMMAA does not possess all of the
human remains and items excavated from the Riverside Cemetery site. The
human remains belong to one child 5-9 years old, of indeterminate sex;
one cremated young adult 17-19 years old, of indeterminate sex; one
adult male 30+ years old; one adult of indeterminate sex; one cremated
infant; and four cremated adults of indeterminate sex. No known
individuals were identified. The 25 associated funerary objects are one
lot of small, white perforated flat beads; one lot of conical copper
points; one lot of small, flat, and irregular-shaped copper fragments;
one lot of faunal bone fragments and charcoal; one lot of shouldered
projectile points; one lot of copper points/cones; one lot of small,
heavy copper fragments; one lot of projectile point tip fragments; one
lot of faunal bone fragments, bark fragments, and red ochre; one lot of
large, red ochre-stained obsidian cores; one lot of copper beads and
bark fragments; one lot of red ochre-stained flint scrapers and flakes;
one lot of red ochre-stained rounded whetstones; one lot of copper
awls; one lot of socketed copper spears; one lot of flat-stemmed or
fish-tailed copper projectile points; one lot of red ochre-covered
chert projectile points; one lot of wood fragments; one lot of red
ochre-covered beaver tooth fragments; one lot of red ochre-coated wood
and bone fragments; one lot of red ochre- and copper-stained faunal
bone fragments; one lot of dog cranium fragments with vials of red
ochre; one lot of red ochre-stained and perforated lynx scapula
fragments; one lot of flat-stemmed copper projectile points and wood
fragments; and one lot of red ochre-stained faunal scapulae.
The Riverside Cemetery site has evidence of occupation dating from
the Late Archaic (2550-300 B.C.) through the Late Woodland Period (A.D.
500-1100). Two components--Features 6 and 14--are associated with
burials belonging to the Old Copper Culture of the Late Archaic/Early
Woodland Period, based on diagnostic artifacts. Three different burial
treatments were noted at the site: Cremations, burial in red ochre, and
burial without ochre. Feature 6 contained a flexed burial with red
ochre and copper points. The cranium of a dog was found near the pelvis
of the individual. Ochre covered the entire skeleton, but was thicker
over the head and legs, in a lens suggesting the body was wrapped in a
skin or bark. A bundle was found with flints, beaver teeth, antler
shaft wrench, copper points, flint points, wood, animal bone, and a
smoothing stone. Feature 2, which was located near Feature 6, was
identified by red ochre staining. Cremated human remains were present
that were disturbed and incomplete. Above this cremation were several
cord-marked pottery sherds as well as a fluted axe however the
association between these objects and the burial is described as
uncertain due to the distance of the objects from the human remains.
Excavation Unit 4 was reported as badly disintegrated bone. The human
remains were cremated and calcined. Feature 13, a disturbed pit
containing calcined bones, contained no artifacts. Feature 14 contained
ochre-stained sand in a pit. At the bottom of the pit was a large block
of obsidian resting on strands of heavy copper beads which were wrapped
in bark. Beneath the obsidian and copper beads was a pile of crushed
cremated bones deposited on top of bark which lined the bottom of the
pit. The bark was noted by the fibrous structures in organic material;
however, it was too fragile to collect. The strands of copper beads
appeared to loop back and forth upon the cremated bones. Features 11
and 12 were two pits that came together, both containing red ochre and
small fragments of human bone and a conical copper point.
The human remains have been determined to be Native American based
on dental traits, mortuary treatment, diagnostic artifacts, and
archeological context. A relationship of shared group identity can be
reasonably traced between the Native American human remains from this
site and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. Menominee tribal
experts provided evidence for cultural affiliation based on their long-
standing presence in the Menominee River Valley, which they believe
establishes ties of territorial ethnicity to these burials. Museum
experts believe the burials are associated with Old Copper Culture
which geographically includes, but reaches beyond, the Menominee River
Valley. However, tribal experts also provided information that suggests
there were regional variations within Old Copper Culture, and this
pattern points toward an association between these particular burials
and the Menominee traditional homelands. After considering the best
available information, and in light of the preponderance of the
evidence threshold required under the law and regulations, the
determination was made that the totality of the various lines of
evidence suggest the Menominee are culturally affiliated with these
particular burials.
Determinations Made by the University of Michigan
Officials of the University of Michigan have determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of nine individuals of
Native American ancestry.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 25 objects 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 Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects and the
Menominee Indian Tribe of 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. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager,
University of Michigan, Office of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503
Thompson
[[Page 47516]]
Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone (734) 647-9085, email
[email protected], by September 24, 2021. After that date, if no
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Menominee Indian
Tribe of Wisconsin may proceed.
The University of Michigan is responsible for notifying The
Consulted Tribes and The Invited Tribes that this notice has been
published.
Dated: August 18, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-18273 Filed 8-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
