Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, Anchorage, AK, 12762-12764 [2025-04464]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12762-12764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04464]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039554; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region (USFWS), with assistance from the 
University of Alaska Museum of the North and the Museum of the 
Aleutians has 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 April 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Jeremy M. Karchut, Regional Historic Preservation Officer/
Archaeologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 E. Tudor Road, 
Anchorage, AK 99503, telephone, (907) 786-3399, 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 
USFWS, 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

    Human remains representing, at least, 67 individuals have been 
identified. The 338 associated funerary objects are from Agattu Island: 
a worked piece of ivory, a lot of five animal bones; from Amchitka 
Island: eight animal bones or fragments, two shells, four wedges, one 
punch, 11 pieces of worked bone, five awls, one needle fragment, one 
animal tooth, one pendant, two adze, one graver, 16 flakes or flake 
lots, one cobble, three cores, 13 hammerstones, one hand stone, one 
hafted hammer, three harpoon fragments, four worked stones, one net 
weight, two abraders, nine scrapers, one chopper, one piece of ochre, 
two lamps, one dish fragment, five knives, two bark samples, three soil 
samples, 25 lots of animal bone, one bone cup, 13 wedges, 11 pieces of 
worked bone, one seal figurine, six bone points, four harpoon heads, 
three harpoon foreshafts, two awls, one animal tooth, eight pendants, 
one labret, two adzes, seven blades, 14 flakes, 10 cobbles, eight 
hammerstones, one burin, one whetstone, one ulu, six worked stones, 
four abraders, one scraper, five knife handles, one piece of worked 
ivory, one lamp, one knife, two soil samples, five hammerstones, four 
wedges, one ulu blade, one worked bone, one bone scraper, one gouge, 
one abrader, two fire drill bit, one adze, one projectile point, one 
end scraper, one wedge, one ground slate fragment, one harpoon head 
fragment, from Sheyma Island: one bone meat hook, one lot of animal 
bones, from Buldir Island: 13 projectile points, four bifaces, 29 
blades, two scrapers, three worked stones, three unworked stones, two 
knives, four flakes, one harpoon head, one bone fragment, one handle, 
one dart, and one worked bone. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from archeological sites on Agattu 
Island, Amchitka Island, Shemya Island, Little Kiska Island, Nizki 
Island, Adak Island, Buldir Island, and Attu Island.
    On Agattu Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK prior to 
1968 human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals were 
removed. According to records at the University of Alaska Museum of the 
North, these remains were collected by Robert Jones from the surface of 
a beach and had eroded from a nearby archaeological site. 
Correspondence in the accession file states that the remains originate 
from a site that Ales Hrdlicka excavated at prior to World War II. The 
remains were transferred to the museum in 1968, where they are still 
housed today and represent two adult males, one adult female, and two 
juveniles. No known individuals were identified.
    On Amchitka Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK in 1968, 
1969, and 1971 human remains representing, at minimum, 31 individuals 
(22 adults and nine juveniles) and 269 associated funerary objects were 
removed from 12 archaeological sites and two unknown locations by 
William S. Laughlin, Richard Sense, Roger Desautels, and/or John Cook 
during archaeological survey, testing, and excavation for the Atomic 
Energy Commission. The complete history of where these human remains 
and associated funerary objects were stored in the past is unknown, but 
they are currently split between the University of Alaska Museum of the 
North in Fairbanks, AK and the Museum of the Aleutians in Unalaska, AK. 
The archaeological site numbers and corresponding MNI for all 31 
individuals removed during work conducted for the Atomic Energy 
Commission are as follows: one adult individual from RAT-00003, one 
adult individual from RAT-00006, two adults and one juvenile individual 
from RAT-00010, one adult individual from RAT-00011, one adult 
individual from RAT-00013, three adult individuals and one juvenile 
individual from RAT-00014, one adult individual from RAT-00015, one 
adult individual from RAT-00023, three adult and five juvenile 
individuals from RAT-00029, one adult individual from RAT-031, one 
adult individual from RAT-00032, three adult individuals and one 
juvenile individual from RAT-00035, one adult individual from RAT-
00036, and two adults and one juvenile from unknown locations. No known 
individuals were identified.
    In 1969 human remains representing, at minimum, one juvenile 
individual was removed from an unknown location on Amchitka Island in 
the Aleutians West Census Area, AK. The exact location where these 
remains were collected is unknown, but they were collected by Bob West 
of Walsh & Co. contractors during excavation of sea otter pens. These 
remains represent one juvenile individual and were placed at the 
University of Alaska Museum of the North in 1975 where they are still 
housed today. No associated funerary objects are present for this 
individual.
    Prior to 1958 human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from St. Makarius Point on Amchitka Island in 
the Aleutians West Census Area, AK. These remains were collected from 
an unknown archaeological site located on top of a bluff and uncovered 
during construction activities related to a United States Coast Guard 
Loran Station built on the site. According to records at the University 
of Alaska Museum of the North, these human remains were transferred to 
the museum in 1958 where they are still housed today and represent 
three adult males. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1957 human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from St. Makarius Point on Amchitka Island in the 
Aleutians West Census Area, AK. The exact location where these remains 
were collected is unknown, and there is little information regarding 
the circumstances

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surrounding their removal. According to records at the University of 
Alaska Museum of the North, these human remains were collected by K. W. 
Kenyon possibly during biological work being conducted on the island, 
who then transferred them to the museum where they are still housed 
today. These human remains represent one adult male and two juveniles. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    On Shemya Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK human 
remains representing, at minimum one adult individual were removed. The 
exact location where these remains were collection is unknown, and 
there is little information regarding the circumstances surrounding 
their removal. These remains are housed at the Museum of the Aleutians 
in Unalaska, AK. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Prior to 1946 human remains representing, at minimum, four adult 
individuals were removed from Shemya Island in the Aleutians West 
Census Area, AK. The exact location where these remains were collected 
is unknown, and there is little information regarding the circumstances 
surrounding their removed. These remains were transferred to the 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University by 
Louis G. Fonda in 1946. These remains were transferred again in 2017 to 
the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks, AK where 
they are still housed today. No known individuals were identified. A 
single associated funerary object was present.
    Prior to 1962 human remains representing, at minimum, one adult 
individual were removed from Shemya Island in the Aleutians West Census 
Area, AK. The exact location where these remains were collected is 
unknown, and there is little information regarding the circumstances 
surrounding their removal. According to records at the University of 
Alaska Museum of the North, these human remains were transferred to the 
museum by Cynthia Goodwin in 1962 where they are still housed today. No 
known individuals were identified. One associated funerary object was 
present.
    In 1963 human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals 
were removed from Shemya Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK. 
The exact location where these remains were collected is unknown, but 
they were removed from the east side of the island by M. M. Perry 
during construction activities. These remains represent one adult 
female and two juvenile individuals and were transferred to the 
University of Alaska Museum of the North in 1964 where they are still 
housed today. No associated funerary objects are present for this 
individual.
    In 1965 human remains representing, at minimum, eight individuals 
were removed from Shemya Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK. 
According to records at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, 
these remains were collected from at least two archaeological sites on 
the island by Mike Aamodt. One adult individual was removed from a 
location labeled as the North-Northeast site, which was actually 
located on the east coast of the island and has since been destroyed by 
construction activities. Three adult and one juvenile individual were 
removed from a location labeled as the Northeast site which was on the 
far northeast corner of the island. This site has also subsequently 
been destroyed by construction activities on the island. Two adult and 
one juvenile individual were removed from unknown locations on the 
island. All eight individuals were transferred to the University of 
Alaska Museum of the North in 1965 where they are still housed today. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    On Little Kiska Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK prior 
to 1951 human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were 
removed. The exact location where these remains were collected is 
unknown, and there is little information regarding the circumstances 
surrounding their removal. According to records at the University of 
Alaska Museum of the North, these human remains were transferred to the 
museum by Arnold Akers in 1951, where they are still housed today. 
These human remains represent one adult female aged 21-35 years. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    On Nizki Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK in 1976 human 
remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed. 
According to records at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, 
these remains were collected from the surface of an unknown 
archaeological site on the west end of the island during biological 
survey carried out by John L. Trapp with the United State Fish and 
Wildlife Service. These human remains were transferred to the museum 
1976 where they are still housed today and represent one female aged 
15-20 years. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    On Adak Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK prior to 1946 
human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed. 
The exact location where these remains were collected is unknown, and 
there is little information regarding the circumstances surrounding 
their removal. According to records at the University of Alaska Museum 
of the North, these human remains were found in the back of an 
abandoned Navy truck associated with Adak Naval Air Station. A Navy 
intelligence investigation was conducted but no conclusions were 
reached as to the person's identity, antiquity, or if foul play was 
involved. Without evidence otherwise, these remains were likely taken 
from an unknown archaeological site on the island. These remains were 
transferred to Ivar Skarland at the museum in 1946, where they are 
still housed today. These human remains represent one adult male aged 
21-35 years. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    On Buldir Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK in 1974 
human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were removed. 
These remains were collected from the ground surface of an unknown 
archaeological site on the northwest beach of the island. According to 
records at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, these human 
remains were collected during the course of biological surveys being 
completed by G. Vernon Byrd, Matthew H. Dick, and Christian P. Dau with 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The remains were 
transferred to the museum in 1975 where they are still housed today and 
represent one adult male aged 21-30 years and one juvenile male aged 
13-17 years. No known individuals were identified. Sixty-five 
associated funerary objects are present.
    On Attu Island in the Aleutians West Census Area, AK in 2002 humans 
remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from an 
archaeological site (ATU-00014) by Debra Corbett, with the Alaska 
Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the time. These remains were 
transferred from Anchorage, AK to the University of Alaska Museum of 
the North in Fairbanks, AK in 2016 and were subsequently identified and 
pulled from the archaeological collection during rehousing and 
cataloging activities. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    All 67 individuals and 338 associated funerary objects removed from 
these islands are believed to be associated with the modern-day 
populations of

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Atka Island and the Aleut Corporation. There are no associated 
radiocarbon dates for these human remains and associated funerary 
objects. The burial context and physical traits of the human remains 
are consistent with those observed for pre-contact Aleut populations. 
Skeletal morphology of present-day Aleut populations is similar to that 
of pre-contact Aleut populations and demonstrates biological 
affiliation between present-day Aleut groups and pre-contact 
populations in the Aleutian Islands. For these reasons the human 
remains and associated funerary objects removed Agattu Island, Amchitka 
Island, Shemya Island, Little Kiska Island, Nizki Island, Adak Island, 
Buldir Island, and Attu Island and described above are determined to be 
directly related to Alaska Native tribal members residing in Atka, AK 
today.

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 USFWS has determined that:
     The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 67 individuals of Native American ancestry.
     The 338 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 Native 
Village of Atka.

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 April 18, 
2025. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the USFWS 
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 USFWS 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: February 19, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-04464 Filed 3-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P