[Federal Register: October 29, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 210)]
[Notices]
[Page 64367]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29oc08-90]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and New York State Museum,
Albany, 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 3003, of the
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects in the control of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and in the possession of the New
York State Museum, Albany, NY. The human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from Dukes County, MA.
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.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by New York
State Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of
the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Acquinnah) of Massachusetts.
In 1966, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals
were recovered from the Howland 2 Site, Dukes County, Martha's Vineyard
Island, MA, during an archeological survey conducted by Frank
Schambach, New York State Museum staff. No known individuals were
identified. The nine associated funerary objects are eight wrought iron
nails with wood adhering and a fragment of deer bone scapula.
The Howland 2 Site is located on Shotnine Hill overlooking
Squibnocket Pond within the historic boundaries of the community of Gay
Head. The human remains were found in two separate locations on the
same site. Wrought iron nails associated with one of the individuals
dates the burial to post-European contact, dated to circa 18th-19th
centuries. Although the only funerary object found with the second
individual consisted of a fragment of animal bone, the depth of the
burial, which was over 4 1[sol]2 feet deep, and its proximity to the
other individual of historic age, indicates that these human remains
may also date to a post-contact time period.
Historic records indicate that the Wampanoag have maintained a
continuous presence on Martha's Vineyard, despite colonization of the
island by Euroamericans in A.D. 1641. In 1711, Gay Head was established
as a reservation for the Wampanoag Gay Head Indians by the Society for
the Propogation of the Gospel in New England. In 1714, the community
was closed off to the public by a ditch and gate enclosure, along what
is now the boundary with Chilmark. The Howland 2 Site is located within
this boundary. Its location within the historic boundary of Gay Head
suggests that the site was used for burial by residents of the
Wampanoag community, rather than by Euroamericans.
Historic information indicates that the area of the Howland 2 Site
has been part of Wampanoag-use lands since 1711. Archeological evidence
indicates that the burials most likely date to a time subsequent to the
establishment of the Gay Head community for the Wampanoag Indians by
the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England. Based on
this historical and archeological evidence, officials of the New York
State Museum have determined that the human remains and funerary
objects are culturally affiliated with the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head
(Aquinnah) of Massachusetts. Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
concur with the determinations in this notice.
Officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and New York State Museum
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human
remains described above represent the physical remains of two
individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs and New York State Museum have also determined that,
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the nine objects 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. Lastly, officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and New
York State Museum 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 Native American human remains and associated
funerary objects and the Wampanpoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of
Massachusetts.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary
objects should contact Lisa M. Anderson, NAGPRA Coordinator, New York
State Museum, 3049 CEC, Albany, NY 12230, telephone (518) 486-2020,
before November 28, 2008. Repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects to the Wampanpoag Tribe of Gay Head
(Aquinnah) of Massachusetts may proceed after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
The New York State Museum is responsible for notifying the
Wampanpoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts that this
notice has been published.
Dated: September 30, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-25763 Filed 10-28-08; 8:45 am]
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