Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, NE, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN, 65660-65661 [2024-17878]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65660-65661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17878]



[[Page 65660]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038465; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Omaha District, Omaha, NE, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 
Department of Anthropology, Knoxville, TN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 
District, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), Department 
of Anthropology, have completed an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after September 11, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Livia Taylor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 
District, ATTN: CENWO-PMA-C, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102, 
telephone (402) 995-2434, email [email protected] and Dr. 
Ellen Lofaro, University of Tennessee, Office of Repatriation, 5723 
Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37921-6053, telephone (865) 974-3370, 
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 the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, and additional 
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results 
of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The 
National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this 
notice.

Abstract of Information Available

North Dakota

    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed 
from Mercer County, ND. The human skeletal remains include one adult 
that was removed from the Rock Village site (32ME15). Site 
investigation began in 1947 with Marvin F. Kivett and later in 1950 
extensive excavations were directed by G. Ellis Burcaw. The site is a 
fortified earthlodge village that has been identified as belonging 
temporally to the Knife River Phase (A.D. 1780-1845). No known 
individuals were identified. There are no associated funerary objects.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed 
from Sioux County, ND. The human skeleton remains include one adult 
that was removed from the Paul Brave site (32SI4), also known as the 
Fort Yates site. In 1947, the University of North Dakota and the State 
Historical Society of North Dakota co-sponsored archeological work in 
the upper limits of the Oahe Reservoir, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
reservoir in North Dakota. Test excavations at 32SI4 were included in 
the work done during this project. The site was investigated a second 
time in 1955, under the sponsorship of the State Historical Society of 
North Dakota. No known individuals were identified. There are no 
associated funerary objects.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 25 individuals were removed 
from Sioux County, ND. The human skeletal remains include eight adults, 
four adult females, eight adult males, and five children that were 
removed from the Boundary Mounds site (32SI1). These individuals were 
removed in 1960 by Robert W. Neuman as part of a Smithsonian River 
Basin Survey project and were sent by the State Historical Society of 
North Dakota to William Bass. It is likely this occurred while Bass was 
at the University of Kansas and he later brought the individuals with 
him to University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). The Boundary Mounds 
site is a Middle Woodland site with four burial mounds that has been 
identified as a Sonota Complex site dating between A.D. 1-A.D. 600. No 
known individuals were identified. The 44 associated funerary objects 
are one rock, six timber fragments, seven lithics, and 30 faunal bones.

South Dakota

    Human remains representing, at minimum, six individuals were 
removed from Campbell County, SD. The human skeletal remains include 
one infant, one non-adult, and four adults that were removed from the 
Anton Rygh site (39CA4). During the summers of 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 
1970, and 1973, human remains were removed from site 39CA4 under the 
direction of William Bass. Post-excavation, Bass transferred the human 
remains to the University of Kansas. In 1971, Bass transferred the 
human remains to UTK. Site 39CA4 is a large, multi-component earth 
lodge village, part of the Plains Village Tradition. It is a fortified 
village site covering around 11-12 acres. At least two occupations are 
suggested by archeological evidence. The first occupation dates to the 
Extended Middle Missouri period (A.D. 1000-1500), while the second 
occupation dates to the Extended Coalescent (A.D. 1500-1675) and Post 
Contact Coalescent (A.D. 1675-1780) periods. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a faunal bone.
    Human remains, representing, at minimum 15 individuals were removed 
from Campbell County, SD. The human skeletal remains include nine 
adults, three young adults, and three children from the Helb site 
(39CA208). These individuals had been loaned to the Smithsonian 
Institution by Marvin Kay and were returned to the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers in 2024. The site was identified in 1966 by J.J. Hoffman, 
David Evans, Donald J. Lehmer, and William M. Bass and excavated in the 
early 1970s. The site is a fortified village site dating to the 
Extended Middle Missouri period (A.D. 1150-1550). No known individuals 
were identified. The 21 associated funerary objects are faunal remains.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed 
from Charles Mix County, SD. The human skeletal remains include one 
adult male that was removed from site 39CH212. This individual was 
removed on an unknown date and transferred to the South Dakota State 
Archaeological Research Center. Sometime between 1987-1988, this 
individual was transferred to UTK for inventory and then transferred 
back to SARC. However, UTK retained a portion of this individual. Site 
39CH212 dates to the Woodland period (1500 B.C.-AD. 900). No known 
individuals were identified. The one associated funerary object is a 
soil sample.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from Corson County, SD. The human skeletal remains include two 
infants removed from the Potts Village site (39CO19) in the late 1980s 
and subsequently stored at South Dakota's State Archaeological Research 
Center (SARC). In 1988, these human remains were transferred by SARC to 
UTK for inventory and were retained by UTK. The site is a fortified 
earth lodge village dating to the Extended Coalescent Period (A.D. 
1550-1675). No known individuals were identified. The 271 associated 
funerary objects are faunal remains.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed

[[Page 65661]]

from Hughes County, SD. The human skeletal remains include one adult 
that was removed from the Bleached Bone site (39HU48). In 1931, Alfred 
Bowers removed eleven burials from a previously looted mound at 39HU48 
during investigations sponsored by the Logan Museum. Additional 
investigations were conducted by the Missouri River Basin Project 
(MRBP) in 1962, during which field crew 10, directed by William Bass, 
removed an additional 13 burials. The site included stone circles, 
mounds, and other configurations. Woodland Period (500 B.C.-A.D. 1000) 
pottery was reportedly found during the 1962 season. In addition, the 
presence of a metallic projectile point suggested possible occupation 
during the Historic Period. No known individuals were identified. The 
52 associated funerary objects are faunal remains.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed 
from Lyman County, SD. The human skeletal remains include one adult 
individual that was removed from the Langdeau site, 39LM209. This 
individual was likely removed from the site during excavations in the 
1960s. The site is an earthlodge village that has been dated to the 
Initial Middle Missouri period (A.D. 1000-1100). No known individuals 
were identified. The four associated funerary objects are faunal 
remains.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed 
from the Second Hand site (39PO207) Potter County, SD. The 
circumstances of the removal of this individual are not well-known. 
This individual may have been one of eight burials that were reported 
as being exposed by local residents, reburied, and then subsequently 
collected by William Bass in 1962. The site was likely identified 
during surveys by W.R. Farrell and Jake Hoffman in 1952. The chronology 
of the site is unknown. No known individuals were identified. There are 
no associated funerary objects.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed 
from Stanley County, SD. The human skeletal remains that include one 
adult were removed from the Buffalo Pasture Cemetery site (39ST216). 
This individual was likely remobed in 1955 when burials of several 
individuals were uncovered during fill dirt removal. William Bass 
examined these burials in 1957. The site was a medium-sized fortified 
village believed to be dated to the 18th century. No known individuals 
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed 
from an unknown site in Stanley County, SD. The human skeletal remains 
include on adult female. This individual was removed from a borrow pit 
north of Oahe Dam at an unknown archaeological site as part of the 
Missouri River Basin Project and loaned to Bass at the University of 
Kansas by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. This individual 
was likely transferred to UTK by Bass in the late 1960s or early 1970s 
when he began working for UTK. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual was removed 
from Walworth County, SD. The individual is a child that was removed 
from the Larson site (39WW2) on an unknown date. Sometime prior to 
1971, these human remains were transferred to William Bass at the 
University of Kansas. In 1971, Bass took these human remains to UTK. 
Archeological evidence places the Larson site in the Post-Contact 
Coalescent period (A.D. 1675-1780). Many excavations have taken place 
at this fortified village site, since the late 1890's, under the 
direction of L. De Lestry, W.H. Adams and W.H. Casler, W.H. Over, 
Alfred W. Bowers, J.J. Hoffman and William Bass. No known individuals 
were identified. There are no associated funerary objects.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from Walworth County, SD. The individuals include an adult male 
and an adolescent that were removed from the No Road site (39WW48). 
These individuals were removed from the site in 1983 and were sent to 
William Bass at UTK. Little is known about the site, but from observed 
lithic materials, the site is likely to represent a Pre-Plains village 
occupation. No known individuals were identified. There are no 
associated funerary objects.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical 
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District has determined 
that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 59 individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 394 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 Three 
Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota.

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 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 September 
11, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District 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 U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Omaha District 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: August 1, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-17878 Filed 8-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P