[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21804-21805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08793]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15179; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Texas A&M University, College
Station, TX
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Texas A&M University 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 Texas A&M University. 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
[[Page 21805]]
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 Texas A&M
University at the address in this notice by May 19, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Suzanne L. Eckert, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M
University, College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone (979) 845-5242.
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 Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX. The human remains were removed from Wilson,
Kinney, and Wharton Counties, TX.
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 Texas A&M
University (TAMU) professional staff in 1995. In 2010, representatives
of the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; and the
Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma were invited to consult with TAMU
for the purpose of determining the place and manner of the
repatriation. The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma contacted TAMU with an
interest in having these remains repatriated; no representatives from
the other tribes contacted TAMU in response to this invitation.
History and Description of the Remains
From July 1985 to August 1985, human remains representing, at
minimum, three individuals were removed from the Wilson County Project
Site (41WN73), in Wilson County, TX, as part of a salvage excavation
run through the University of Texas at San Antonio. At the time of
donation, these human remains were identified as being from Burial
1 (TAMU-NAGPRA 45), Burial 2 (TAMU-NAGPRA 46), and
Burial 3 (TAMU-NAGPRA 47). The human remains were determined
to be as follows: Burial 1, one adult of indeterminate sex;
Burial 2, one adult of indeterminate sex; and Burial
3, one adult of indeterminate sex. Based on artifacts
recovered from the site, the human remains were determined to be
prehistoric. No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
In 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals
were removed from private land in Kinney County, TX, and donated to
TAMU (TAMU-NAGPRA 48). At the time of donation, it was indicated that
the human remains were probably prehistoric, without further
explanation. Analysis of the human remains by physical anthropologists
indicates that this individual was of Native American origins. The
human remains were determined to be one adult female and one adult
male. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
In 1986, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from private land in Wharton County, TX, and donated to
TAMU (TAMU-NAGPRA 56). The two associated funerary objects are a lead
bullet and ceramic pipe. The associated funerary objects date the human
remains to 1840-1870 A.D. Analysis of the human remains by physical
anthropologists indicates that this individual was of Native American
origins. The human remains were determined to be one adult of
indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified.
Based on geographic location of all the sites in this notice, TAMU
staff found it reasonable to trace a shared identity between the human
remains in this notice and the following historic groups: Cantona,
Ervipiame, Mayeye, Comanche, Kickapoo, Tonkawa, Coahuiltecan, and Lipan
Apache. Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and/
or traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared
group identity between these historic groups and the present-day
Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Tonkawa
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
Determinations Made by Texas A&M University
Officials of Texas A&M University have determined that:
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of six individuals of
Native American ancestry.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the two 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 the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo
Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
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 should submit a
written request with information in support of the request to Dr.
Suzanne L. Eckert, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone (979) 845-5242, by May 19,
2014. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward,
transfer of control of the human remains to the Comanche Nation,
Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Tonkawa Tribe of Indians
of Oklahoma may proceed.
Texas A&M University is responsible for notifying the Comanche
Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Tonkawa Tribe of
Indians of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.
Dated: March 4, 2014.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-08793 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
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