[Federal Register: April 17, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 75)]
[Notices]
[Page 20936-20937]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ap08-63]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: American Museum of
Natural History, New York, NY
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 in the possession of the American Museum
of Natural History, New York, NY, 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 cultural
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the
determinations in this notice.
Prior to 1900, W.T. Smith acquired 104 cultural items through
excavations at what is now called the Clements Site, on his land in
Cass County, TX. In 1900, Mr. Smith sold the cultural items to the
museum. The 104 cultural items are 3 celts, 25 glass beads, 1 piece of
green pigment, 3 knives, 3 pipes, 29 shell beads and pendants, 5
unmodified shells, 1 shell implement, and 34 ceramic vessels.
The three celts are ground from a type of shale commonly known as
``green stone.'' The 25 glass beads are blue, opaque, and round. The
one piece of green pigment has a clay-like consistency. The three
knives are made of chipped chert. Of the three ceramic pipes, two are
complete and elbow-shaped, and one is a broken bowl. The 29 shell beads
and pendants include 15 marine shells carved into zoomorphic shapes, 6
marine shell ear discs, 6 barrel-shaped marine shell beads, and 2 worn
and cut freshwater mussel shells. The five unmodified shells are
unmodified freshwater mussel shell valves. The one shell implement is a
complete freshwater mussel valve, modified for use as a hoe. The 34
ceramic vessels include 15 water vessels, 2 vases, 3 pots, and 14
bowls.
The determination that the cultural items are unassociated funerary
objects is based on museum documentation, consultation information
provided by representatives of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, and expert
opinion. Museum documentation specifically indicates that these
cultural items were associated with burials. The museum is not in
possession of the human remains from these burials. Based on ceramic
style and archeological evidence, these cultural items date to between
CE 1680 and 1720. Historical and archeological evidence indicates that
the Cass County region was occupied by the Caddo during the historic
period, and that this group emerged from pre-contact Caddoan culture
dating back to approximately CE 850. Expert analysis and consultation
have confirmed that the ceramics are consistent with the established
Caddoan ceramic sequence.
At an unknown date, C.C. Jones collected seven cultural items from
an unknown locality in the vicinity of Shreveport, LA. The museum
acquired the cultural items from Mr. Jones, through purchase or as a
gift, and accessioned them at an unknown date between 1869 and 1890.
The seven cultural items are two ceramic vessels and five ceramic
fragments. The two ceramic vessels are one pot and one water vessel.
The five ceramic fragments are from a single vessel.
The determination that the cultural items are unassociated funerary
objects is based on museum documentation, consultation information
provided by the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, expert opinion, and an
article published by Mr. Jones in which he states that these objects
were removed from an ``ancient burial ground.'' The museum is not in
possession of any human remains from these burials. Based on ceramic
style, the two vessels date to between CE 1600 and 1750, while the
fragments cannot be dated. Historical and archeological evidence
indicates that the Shreveport region was occupied by the Caddo during
the historic period, and that this group emerged from pre-contact
Caddoan culture dating back to approximately CE 850. Expert analysis
and consultation have confirmed that the ceramics are consistent with
the established Caddoan ceramic sequence.
At an unknown date, DeCost Smith collected one cultural item from
an unknown locality in the Ouachita River valley of either Arkansas or
Louisiana. The museum acquired the cultural item in 1940, along with
more than 200 others, through Mr. Smith's bequest. The one cultural
item is a ceramic bottle.
[[Page 20937]]
The determination that this item is an unassociated funerary object
is based on museum documentation, consultation information provided by
the tribe and expert opinion. Though museum documentation does not
specifically indicate that this cultural item was associated with a
burial, the condition of the item and its type are consistent with a
funerary context. Based on ceramic style, this cultural item dates to
between CE 1500 and 1750. Historical and archeological evidence
indicates that the Ouachita River valley region was occupied by the
Caddo during the historic period, and that this group emerged from pre-
contact Caddoan culture dating back to approximately CE 850. Expert
analysis and consultation have confirmed that this bottle is consistent
with the established Caddoan ceramic sequence.
Between 1916 and 1917, Mark Harrington collected cultural items
from the Ozan and Washington sites in Hempstead County, AR, during a
Museum of the American Indian expedition. The museum acquired the
cultural items from the Museum of the American Indian in an exchange in
1920. The 31 cultural items are 29 ceramic vessels and 2 vessel
fragments. The 29 ceramic vessels are 2 bottles, 14 bowls, and 13 jars.
The two vessel fragments are those of a jar.
The determination that these items are unassociated funerary
objects is based on museum documentation, consultation information
provided by the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, expert opinion, and archival
information held at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American
Indian. While museum documentation and archival information
specifically identifies only six of the objects as having been
associated with burials, field records, the condition of the items and
type of object, indicate a funerary context. Based on ceramic style,
the vessels date to between CE 850 and 1700. Historical evidence
indicates that the Hempstead County region was occupied by the Caddo
during the historic period, and that this group emerged from pre-
contact Caddoan culture dating back to approximately CE 850. Expert
analysis and consultation have confirmed that the ceramics are
consistent with the established Caddoan ceramic sequence.
Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 143 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. Officials of the American Museum of Natural
History also have determined that, 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 Caddo Nation
of Oklahoma.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should
contact Nell Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources, American Museum of
Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024,
telephone (212) 769-5837, before May 19, 2008. Repatriation of the
unassociated funerary objects to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma may
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying
the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.
Dated: March 18, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-8295 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
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