Notice of Intended Repatriation: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 61134-61135 [2024-16702]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
61134
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 30, 2024 / Notices
brothers Howard and Ray Buswell
between 1906 and the late 1950s. The
Buswell brothers referred to the site as
the ‘‘Gillen Midden.’’ Dr. Gar Grabert,
WWU, visited the site in 1968 and
recorded it as 45–WH–15. Sometime
after 1970, the archaeological collection
was donated to Western Washington
University. No known individuals were
identified. No hazardous chemicals are
known to have been used to treat the
human remains and associated funerary
objects while in the custody of WWU.
The human remains and associated
funerary objects in this notice are
connected to one or more identifiable
earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or
cultures. There is a relationship of
shared group identity between the
identifiable earlier groups, tribes,
peoples, or cultures and one or more
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations. The following types of
information were used to reasonably
trace the relationship: anthropological
information, archaeological information,
geographical information, historical
information, and oral tradition.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available
and the results of consultation, cultural
affiliation is clearly identified by the
information available about the human
remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Determinations
The WWU has determined that:
• The human remains described in
this notice represent the physical
remains of one individual of Native
American ancestry.
• The four objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have
been placed intentionally with or near
individual human remains at the time of
death or later as part of the death rite
or ceremony.
• There is a connection between the
human remains and associated funerary
objects described in this notice and the
Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation
and Nooksack Indian Tribe.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the
human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice must be sent to the
authorized representative identified in
this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests
for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations
identified in this notice.
2. Any lineal descendant, Indian
Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization
not identified in this notice who shows,
by a preponderance of the evidence, that
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:51 Jul 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
the requestor is a lineal descendant or
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization with cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects
described in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after August 29, 2024.
If competing requests for repatriation
are received, the WWU must determine
the most appropriate requestor prior to
repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects are
considered a single request and not
competing requests. The WWU is
responsible for sending a copy of this
notice to the Indian Tribes and Native
Hawaiian organizations identified in
this notice.
Authority: Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act, 25
U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing
regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: July 17, 2024.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024–16709 Filed 7–29–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0038346;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation:
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the Native
American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Wesleyan
University intends to repatriate certain
cultural items that meet the definition of
unassociated funerary objects and that
have a cultural affiliation with the
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items
in this notice may occur on or after
August 29, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Wendi Field Murray,
Wesleyan University (Archaeology &
Anthropology Collections), 265 Church
Street, Exley Science Building,
Middletown, CT 06459, telephone (860)685–2085, email wmurray01@
wesleyan.edu.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice is published as part of the
National Park Service’s administrative
responsibilities under NAGPRA. The
determinations in this notice are the
sole responsibility of Wesleyan
University and additional information
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
on the determinations in this notice,
including the results of consultation,
can be found in the summary or related
records. The National Park Service is
not responsible for the determinations
in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of six cultural items have been
requested for repatriation. The six
unassociated funerary objects are one
projectile point covered in red ochre
and five ceramic sherds. The projectile
point is a long-stemmed point of grey
chert. Approximately six and one-half
inches long, the point has a triangular
blade, and the entire surface is covered
in red ochre. According to available
records, the object was donated to
Wesleyan University by George M.
Southmayd in 1890. Southmayd (1824–
1908) was a Middletown businessman
whose family operated a funeral home
on Main Street for several decades.
Collections records indicate that the
collector of the object is unknown, but
that it was found near the Air Line
Depot in Middletown, CT the same year
it was donated (1890). No other objects
appear to have been donated with it.
The five ceramic sherds were all
received in a transfer from the
Smithsonian Institution to Wesleyan
University in 1874. One is a grittempered sherd with a hole drilled
through it and cross-hatched surface
impressions (1971.411.1); two of the
sherds are shell-tempered with cordmarked surface impressions
(1971.411.2–.3); and two sherds are
sand or grit-tempered with cord-marked
surface impressions (1971.411.4–.5).
According to Wesleyan’s records, all
five objects were collected by William
Andros at an unknown date from ‘‘an
Indian burying ground on the CT River
in East Hartford, CT.’’
No cultural affiliation information
was included in the records of the
taking or the transfer, though their
geographical origin and the welldocumented cultural and historical
connections between the joint
claimants, central Connecticut, and the
Connecticut River indicates a cultural
affiliation with the Mashantucket
Pequot Indian Tribe and the Mohegan
Tribe of Indians of Connecticut.
The presence of potentially hazardous
substances (i.e., pesticide residues) on
these particular objects is unknown. In
2021, Wesleyan University discovered
the presence of pesticide residue
(arsenic) on one organic object from
Samoa that was transferred from the
Smithsonian in the 19th century, as well
as several taxidermy specimens. This
suggests the possibility that other
objects in the collection may be
E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM
30JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 30, 2024 / Notices
contaminated. While pesticides were
not typically applied to stone or ceramic
objects due to their inherent resilience
to pest damage, the objects have
potentially been intermingling with
organic objects in a large ethnographic
teaching collection since the late 19th
century, so cross-contamination is a
possibility.
There is one documented instance of
pest fumigation relating to the
collections that dates to 1972–1973.
This was to treat a silverfish infestation
in underground storage rooms that held
the museum’s objects after it closed. The
proposal was for the application of
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)
to the floors, the placement of open
containers of paradichlorobenzene
(PDB) around the room, and the
placement of a mildew-retarding
insecticide inside the wraps of
specimens. The specific contents of the
room in which the chemicals were
applied, and to what extent they were
shielded from them, is unknown.
a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or
Native Hawaiian organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items in
this notice to a requestor may occur on
or after August 29, 2024. If competing
requests for repatriation are received,
Wesleyan University must determine
the most appropriate requestor prior to
repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the cultural items are
considered a single request and not
competing requests. Wesleyan
University is responsible for sending a
copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes
and Native Hawaiian organizations
identified in this notice and to any other
consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act, 25
U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing
regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Dated: July 17, 2024.
Melanie O’Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
telephone (405) 470–4816, or by email
to kellison@usbr.gov. Individuals who
are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or
have a speech disability may dial 711
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice is published as part of the
National Park Service’s administrative
responsibilities under NAGPRA. The
determinations in this notice are the
sole responsibility of the Reclamation,
and additional information on the
human remains or cultural items in this
notice, including the results of
consultation, can be found in the related
records. The National Park Service is
not responsible for the identifications in
this notice.
[FR Doc. 2024–16702 Filed 7–29–24; 8:45 am]
Abstract of Information Available
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
Determinations
Wesleyan University has determined
that:
• The six unassociated funerary
objects described in this notice are
reasonably believed to have been placed
intentionally with or near human
remains, and are connected, either at the
time of death or later as part of the death
rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native
American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or
Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been
identified by a preponderance of the
evidence as related to human remains,
specific individuals, or families, or
removed from a specific burial site or
burial area of an individual or
individuals with cultural affiliation to
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization.
• There is a reasonable connection
between the cultural items described in
this notice and the Mashantucket
Pequot Indian Tribe and the Mohegan
Tribe of Indians of Connecticut.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for
repatriation of the cultural items in this
notice must be sent to the authorized
representative identified in this notice
under ADDRESSES. Requests for
repatriation may be submitted by any
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or
Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice who shows, by
a preponderance of the evidence, that
the requestor is a lineal descendant or
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:51 Jul 29, 2024
Jkt 262001
61135
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0038350;
PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area
Office, Oklahoma City, OK
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the Native
American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area
Office (OTAO) (Reclamation) intends to
carry out the disposition of human
remains removed from Federal or Tribal
lands to the lineal descendants, Indian
Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization
with priority for disposition in this
notice.
DATES: Disposition of the human
remains in this notice may occur on or
after August 29, 2024. If no claim for
disposition is received by July 30, 2025,
the human remains in this notice will
become unclaimed human remains.
ADDRESSES: Send written claims for
disposition of the human remains to
Kate Ellison, Bureau of Reclamation,
5924 NW 2nd Street, Oklahoma City,
OK 73127–6514, or by email to
kellison@usbr.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate
Ellison, Bureau of Reclamation, at
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00078
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Based on the information available,
human remains representing, at least,
one individual has been reasonably
identified. No associated funerary
objects are present. The human remains
are a single petrous (ear bone). The
human remains are from 34GR4 in Greer
County, Oklahoma, and were received
by Hector Garcia, then a Reclamation
archeologist, on February 14, 1997, from
citizens that had recovered the human
remains from the W.C. Austin Project
(Lake Altus), OK.
Determinations
Reclamation has determined that:
• The human remains described in
this notice represent the physical
remains of one individual of Native
American ancestry.
• The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes
(Wichita, Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie),
Oklahoma has priority for disposition of
the human remains described in this
notice.
Claims for Disposition
Written claims for disposition of the
human remains in this notice must be
sent to the appropriate official identified
in this notice under ADDRESSES. If no
claim for disposition is received by July
30, 2025, the human remains in this
notice will become unclaimed human
remains. Claims for disposition may be
submitted by:
1. Any lineal descendant, Indian
Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization
identified in this notice.
2. Any lineal descendant, Indian
Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization
not identified in this notice who shows,
E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM
30JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61134-61135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16702]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038346; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Wesleyan University, Middletown,
CT
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Wesleyan University intends to repatriate
certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated
funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after August 29, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Wendi Field Murray, Wesleyan University (Archaeology &
Anthropology Collections), 265 Church Street, Exley Science Building,
Middletown, CT 06459, telephone (860)-685-2085, email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA.
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of
Wesleyan University and additional information on the determinations in
this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the
summary or related records. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of six cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The six unassociated funerary objects are one projectile point covered
in red ochre and five ceramic sherds. The projectile point is a long-
stemmed point of grey chert. Approximately six and one-half inches
long, the point has a triangular blade, and the entire surface is
covered in red ochre. According to available records, the object was
donated to Wesleyan University by George M. Southmayd in 1890.
Southmayd (1824-1908) was a Middletown businessman whose family
operated a funeral home on Main Street for several decades. Collections
records indicate that the collector of the object is unknown, but that
it was found near the Air Line Depot in Middletown, CT the same year it
was donated (1890). No other objects appear to have been donated with
it.
The five ceramic sherds were all received in a transfer from the
Smithsonian Institution to Wesleyan University in 1874. One is a grit-
tempered sherd with a hole drilled through it and cross-hatched surface
impressions (1971.411.1); two of the sherds are shell-tempered with
cord-marked surface impressions (1971.411.2-.3); and two sherds are
sand or grit-tempered with cord-marked surface impressions
(1971.411.4-.5). According to Wesleyan's records, all five objects were
collected by William Andros at an unknown date from ``an Indian burying
ground on the CT River in East Hartford, CT.''
No cultural affiliation information was included in the records of
the taking or the transfer, though their geographical origin and the
well-documented cultural and historical connections between the joint
claimants, central Connecticut, and the Connecticut River indicates a
cultural affiliation with the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe and the
Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut.
The presence of potentially hazardous substances (i.e., pesticide
residues) on these particular objects is unknown. In 2021, Wesleyan
University discovered the presence of pesticide residue (arsenic) on
one organic object from Samoa that was transferred from the Smithsonian
in the 19th century, as well as several taxidermy specimens. This
suggests the possibility that other objects in the collection may be
[[Page 61135]]
contaminated. While pesticides were not typically applied to stone or
ceramic objects due to their inherent resilience to pest damage, the
objects have potentially been intermingling with organic objects in a
large ethnographic teaching collection since the late 19th century, so
cross-contamination is a possibility.
There is one documented instance of pest fumigation relating to the
collections that dates to 1972-1973. This was to treat a silverfish
infestation in underground storage rooms that held the museum's objects
after it closed. The proposal was for the application of
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) to the floors, the placement of
open containers of paradichlorobenzene (PDB) around the room, and the
placement of a mildew-retarding insecticide inside the wraps of
specimens. The specific contents of the room in which the chemicals
were applied, and to what extent they were shielded from them, is
unknown.
Determinations
Wesleyan University has determined that:
The six unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe
and the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be
submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after August 29, 2024. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, Wesleyan University must determine the most
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and
not competing requests. Wesleyan University is responsible for sending
a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting
parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Dated: July 17, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-16702 Filed 7-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
