[Federal Register: October 25, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 207)]
[Notices]
[Page 63886-63887]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25oc00-114]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of The State Museum
of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9,
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated
funerary objects in the possession of The State Museum of Pennsylvania,
Harrisburg, PA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by The State
Museum of Pennsylvania professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Seneca Nation of New York, the Seneca-Cayuga
Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New
York.
    At an unknown time, human remains representing one individual were
removed from the Conestoga Indian Town Site (36La52), Manor Township,
Lancaster County, PA by Samual Farver. Mr. Farver donated these remains
to The State Museum of Pennsylvania in 1961. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown time, human remains representing 3 individuals and 86
associated funerary objects were removed from the Conestoga Indian Town
Site by Robert Ditchburn. Mr. Ditchburn donated the remains and objects
to The State Museum of Pennsylvania in 1967. No known individuals were
identified. The objects include shell, glass, and seed beads; woven
fabric fragments; miscellaneous iron fragments; an iron knife blade;
lead musket balls; a pewter spoon; wood fragments; and a brass
medallion, rings, and wire chain segments.
    In 1972, human remains representing 86 individuals and 63,176
associated funerary objects were removed during excavations by The
State Museum of Pennsylvania at the Conestoga Indian Town Site. No
known individuals were identified. The objects include animal fragments
(bone refuse, fur/hair, turtle shell fragments, snail shell), beads
(catlinite, shell, glass, seed, wampum, bone, brass, wood), bone combs,
brass kettles, brick fragments, buckskins (with and without fur
attached), charcoal fragments, clothing fasteners (brass and iron
buckles; pewter, brass, wood with brass casing, and iron(?) buttons;
straight pins), catlinite effigies, glass fragments (goblet stems,
cruets, medicine bottles, miscellaneous), gun parts (lock, trigger
guard, barrel, side plates, frizzen, flints, ramrod, brass buttplate,
buckskin bullet pouch, bullet

[[Page 63887]]

mold, lead musket balls, powder horn fragments, gunpowder), 18th
century ceramics (comb slipware mug, redware sherds, redware pitcher,
redware dish, redware cup), iron tools (axe, hoe, claw hammer, awl,
knife blades with wooden and bone clasps and handles, nails and screws,
scissors), iron and brass mouth harps, mirror fragments, miscellaneous
brass items (bands, wire, bands around fabric, hinge, vanity box,
washers, thimbles, hawk and sleigh bells, kettles), miscellaneous iron
items (spring, needle-like fragments fused with string, pot fragments,
snuff boxes), miscellaneous lead fragments, miscellaneous leather
fragments (thongs, thong fragment with a brass rivet, shoe parts),
miscellaneous pewter fragments, miscellaneous seeds and nuts,
ornamentation (medallion; rings; chain fragments; jinglers; coins;
coils; cross; wire choker; cufflinks; bracelets; shell, catlinite, and
other stone pendants; pewter crucifix and turtle; shell disc; gorget;
runtees; silver broaches, crucifix, and hair ornaments), smoking pipes
(kaolin, pewter, earthenware), spectacles (brass wire with lenses),
spoons (pewter, wood, brass), stone tools (arrow shaft fragments, flint
core, hammerstone, brass and stone projectile points), strike-a-lights,
textile fragments (cordage, woven cloth with and without
brocade),whetstones, and wood fragments including bowl and barrel
fragments.
    The Euroamerican assemblage of objects dates the burials to the
18th century. Ethnohistoric, documentary, and archeological evidence
indicates that the Conestoga Indian Town Site was occupied by Seneca
and Susquehannock Indians between A.D. 1700-1763. There is no evidence
to contradict this.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of The State
Museum of Pennsylvania have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains
of 90 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of The State
Museum of Pennsylvania also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR
10.2 (d)(2), the 63,262 objects listed 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 State Museum of Pennsylvania have determined that, pursuant to
43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity that
can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains
and associated funerary objects and the Seneca Nation of New York, the
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca
Indians of New York.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Seneca Nation of New
York, the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of
Seneca Indians of New York. Representatives of any other Indian tribe
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Stephen G.
Warfel, Senior Curator, Archaeology, The State Museum of Pennsylvania,
300 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0024, telephone (717) 783-2887,
before November 24, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects to the Seneca Nation of New York, the
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca
Indians of New York may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.

    Dated: October 16, 2000
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships
[FR Doc. 00-27396 Filed 10-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F