[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 116 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36242-36243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14362]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-13114; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: New York State
Museum, Albany, NY
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The New York State Museum, in consultation with the
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the
definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or
representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items
should submit a written request to the New York State Museum. If no
additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural
items 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
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with
information in support of the claim to the New York State Museum at the
address in this notice by July 17, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Lisa Anderson, NAGPRA Coordinator, New York State Museum,
3122 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230, telephone (518) 486-
2020.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under the
control of the New York State Museum 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 Native
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
History and Description of the Cultural items
In the late 19th century, 76 cultural items were removed from the
property
[[Page 36243]]
of the former Christian Science Church located in Lansingburg,
Rensselaer County, NY, by Reverend O.C. Auringer of Troy, NY. Museum
records indicate that the cultural items were found in association with
human burials, but the human remains are not present in the
collections. The unassociated funerary objects from this site are 65
tubular and round glass beads, 4 discoidal shell beads, 1 tubular bone
bead, 1 stone bead, 1 perforated brass child's thimble, 1 small
crescent-shaped shell bead, 1 small lead bird figure, and 2 perforated
triangular brass projectile points.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 93 cultural items were
removed from sites in Albany, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties, NY, by
Mr. Dwinel F. Thompson of Troy, NY. Museum records indicate that the
cultural items were found in association with human burials, but the
human remains are not present in the collections. From the former
Laureate Grounds in Troy, Rensselaer County, NY, the 90 unassociated
funerary objects are 6 perforated elk teeth, 2 iron objects (possibly
awls), 3 copper spiral ornaments, 74 glass beads, 1 kaolin ``EB''
smoking pipe, 1 copper tinkling cone, 1 bone comb, and 2 perforated
triangular brass projectile points. From Green Island in Albany County,
NY, the 1 unassociated funerary object is 1 iron trade adze. From the
vicinity of Schaghticok in Saratoga County, NY, the 2 unassociated
funerary objects are 2 small discoidal shell beads.
The Lansingburg and Troy sites are burial grounds that may have
been associated with Unawat's Castle, a Mahican village recorded on a
1632 map of Rensselaerswyck. The exact location of Unawat's Castle has
not been established, but deed records indicate that the area where the
sites are located was in the possession of the Mahican people until
1678 when it was sold by the Mahican leader, Amenhamit, to Robert
Sanders. Prior to that, Mahican Indians allowed Sanders to use the
property for his cattle as early as 1668. The objects from the
Lansingburg burial sites date to circa A.D. 1650-1670. The objects from
the Troy burial sites date to the early 17th century and the middle
17th century. Based on the archaeological and historical evidence, the
unassociated funerary objects from the Lansingburg and Troy sites are
likely to be culturally affiliated with the Stockbridge Munsee
Community, Wisconsin.
Green Island is an island in the Hudson River of eastern New York
where archaeological evidence indicates recurrent Native American
occupation over several thousand years. Museum records indicate the
cultural item was washed out of an Indian grave at the upper end of the
island in 1904. The cultural item dates to the 17th century. Early deed
records indicates that Green Island was in the possession of the
Mahican people until 1665, when it was sold by Mahican leaders,
Amanhanit, Aepjen, and Wanapet, to Jeremias Van Rensselaer. Based on
the archaeological and historical evidence, the unassociated funerary
object from Green Island is likely to be culturally affiliated with the
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.
Museum records indicate two cultural items were found in an
``Indian grave near Schuylerville,'' which is located on the west side
of the upper Hudson River in Saratoga County, NY. No specific site
information is available, but extensive evidence of Native American
occupation has been documented in the area of Fish Creek near
Schuylerville. The cultural items date to the 16th century.
Archaeological evidence suggests the Schuylerville area was occupied by
Mahican people in the centuries just prior to European contact. Based
on the archaeological evidence, the unassociated funerary object from
the vicinity of Schuylerville is likely to be culturally affiliated
with the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.
Determinations Made by the New York State Museum
Officials of the New York State Museum have determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 169 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.
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 Stockbridge Munsee Community,
Wisconsin.
Additional Requestors and Disposition
Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim
these cultural items should submit a written request with information
in support of the claim to Lisa Anderson, NAGPRA Coordinator, New York
State Museum, 3122 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230,
telephone (518) 486-2020, by July 17, 2013. After that date, if no
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the
unassociated funerary objects to the Stockbridge Munsee Community,
Wisconsin, may proceed.
The New York State Museum is responsible for notifying the
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin, that this notice has been
published.
Dated: May 16, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-14362 Filed 6-14-13; 8:45 am]
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