[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22285-22286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08770]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-12676; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Carnegie Museum of Natural 
History, Pittsburgh, PA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Carnegie Museum of Natural History has completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-
day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants 
or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. If no 
additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, 
Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice 
may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History at the 
address in this notice by May 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Sandra L. Olsen, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 
5800 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15206, telephone (412) 665-2606, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under the control of the Carnegie Museum of 
Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA. The human remains and associated 
funerary objects were removed from Emerson Cemetery, in Hancock County, 
ME.
    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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Carnegie 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Aroostook Band of Micmac (previously listed as 
the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of Maliseet 
Indians; Passamaquoddy Tribe; and the Penobscot Nation (previously 
listed as the Penobscot Tribe of Maine).

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1912, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Emerson Cemetery near Lake Alamoosook, in Orland, 
Hancock County, ME. This was part of an exploration of archaeological 
sites in Maine by the Phillips Academy, Andover, MA. In 1923, Phillips 
Academy transferred a single individual's remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, as part of 
a large, representative sample of archaeological material from all over 
the United States. The individual is represented by a single bone 
fragment from Grave 65. No known individuals were identified. The 18 
associated funerary objects are 3 gouges, 5 points, 1 broken point, 1 
pebble, 3 celts, 1 knife, 1 adze, 1 plummet, and 2 water-worn stones 
removed from Grave 65 and Graves 61, 83, and 90.
    The human remains and associated funerary objects were identified 
by archaeologists at Phillips Academy as being from the Red Paint 
phase, identified by the extensive use of red ochre in the burials. Red 
ochre has a spiritual significance in the Wabanaki cultural worldview, 
as illustrated in oral tales published in 1894 (Rand, Legends of the 
Micmacs). Creation stories and other narratives place the Wabanaki 
tribes in Maine from the earliest days. The Wabanaki people have a long 
history of protecting burial places. Records from the 18th century 
document the Wabanaki tribes desire to maintain ancestral burials and 
cemeteries undisturbed.
    Orland, ME, is within the traditional hunting and fishing territory 
of the Penobscot tribe, and specific places in the area are referenced 
in Penobscot

[[Page 22286]]

tribal legends (Speck, Penobscot Man: The Life History of a Forest 
Tribe in Maine; Siebert, Penobscot Legends). In 1775, the Provincial 
Congress of Massachusetts recognized the Penobscot tribe's claim to 
``territories or possessions, beginning at the Head of Tide on the 
Penobscot-river, extending six miles on each side of said river'' 
(Godfrey, ``The Ancient Penobscot, or Panawanskek,'' Historical 
Magazine, Vol. 1., Series 3: 85-92). Although the Emerson Cemetery was 
on property not owned by Penobscot tribe, in 1918, the same excavators 
from Phillips Academy were refused permission to examine similar Red 
Paint graves on located on Indian Island, ME, on Penobscot tribal 
lands.
    Today, the Wabanaki tribes are represented by the Aroostook Band of 
Micmac (previously listed as the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians); 
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Passamaquoddy Tribe; and the 
Penobscot Nation (previously listed as the Penobscot Tribe of Maine).

Determinations Made by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 18 objects described 
in this notice 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.
     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 
Aroostook Band of Micmac (previously listed as the Aroostook Band of 
Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Passamaquoddy Tribe; 
and the Penobscot Nation (previously listed as the Penobscot Tribe of 
Maine).

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. Sandra L. Olsen, Carnegie Museum of 
Natural History, 5800 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15206, telephone (412) 
665-2606, email [email protected], by May 15, 2013. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
Aroostook Band of Micmac (previously listed as the Aroostook Band of 
Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Passamaquoddy Tribe; 
and the Penobscot Nation (previously listed as the Penobscot Tribe of 
Maine) may proceed.
    The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Aroostook Band of Micmac (previously listed as the Aroostook Band 
of Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Passamaquoddy 
Tribe; and the Penobscot Nation (previously listed as the Penobscot 
Tribe of Maine) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 26, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-08770 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P