[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21799-21800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08811]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15074; 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 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 and associated funerary objects
were removed from Aransas, Brazoria, Harris, Nueces, and Matagorda
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, and the remains were
determined to be ancestral to the historic Coahuiltecan culture. In
2010, representatives of 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, but no Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of
Oklahoma representatives contacted TAMU or visited the remains in
response to this invitation.
History and Description of the Remains
In October 1980, human remains representing, at minimum, seven
individuals were removed from the Palm Harbor site (41AS80) in Aransas
County, TX, during a salvage project at a construction site. At the
time of excavation, the co-mingled remains were not given a site burial
designation. The human remains were determined to be two adult females,
four adult males, and one subadult. The human remains were donated to
TAMU in 1980 (TAMU-NAGPRA 17), and the archeologists at the time
indicated that these individuals dated to the Late Archaic Period,
possibly the Karankawa culture. No known individuals were identified.
No associated funerary objects are present. Based on geographic
location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared identity
from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture. Archeological and
linguistic evidence, historical records, and traditional beliefs
indicate that there is a relationship of shared group identity between
the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the present-day Tonkawa Tribe of
Indians of Oklahoma.
Between October 1987 and February 1988, human remains representing,
at minimum, two individuals were removed from the Alabonson Road site
(41HR273) in Harris County, TX, as part of a CRM project jointly
conducted by Texas A&M and Prewitt and Assoc., Inc. The human remains
were determined to be as follows: From Burial 1 (TAMU-NAGPRA
31), one adult female; and from Burial 2 (TAMU-NAGPRA 32), one
adult female. No known individuals were identified. The three
associated funerary objects associated with Burial 1 include
one lot of fresh water mussel shells found in a circular pattern in
chest area, one modified animal bone also found in chest region, and
one human canine. No associated funerary objects were associated with
Burial 2. Based on the associated funerary remains and the
geographic location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared
identity from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture.
Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and
traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared
group identity between the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the
present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
Sometime prior to 1978, human remains representing, at minimum,
nine individuals were removed from the Lunde Motte site (41MG35) in
Matagorda County, TX, by a private individual, and were donated to TAMU
in 1978. The human remains were determined to be nine adults of
indeterminate sex (TAMU-NAGPRA 42). No known individuals were
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on the
geographic location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared
identity from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture.
Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and
traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared
group identity between the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the
present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
Sometime prior to 1995, human remains representing, at minimum,
four individuals were removed from the Bauman site (41NU66) in Nueces
County, TX, by a private individual, and donated to TAMU. The human
remains were determined to be as follows: One adult male; two adults of
indeterminate
[[Page 21800]]
sex; one subadult (TAMU-NAGPRA 43). No known individuals were
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on the
geographic location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared
identity from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture.
Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and
traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared
group identity between the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the
present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
In 1983, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals
were removed from the Darrington Point Prison Unit Site in Brazoria
County, TX. The human remains were determined to be as follows: One
adult male and one adult female (TAMU-NAGPRA 60). No known individuals
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on
the geographic location, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a
shared identity from this site to the historic Coahuiltecan culture.
Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and
traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared
group identity between the historic Coahuiltecan culture and the
present-day Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
Sometime prior to 1995, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from the surface of the Laguna Madre Bauman
site in Nueces County, TX, by a private individual, and donated to
TAMU. The human remains were determined to be those of one adult male
(TAMU-NAGPRA 61). No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects are present. Based on the geographic location, TAMU
staff found it reasonable to trace a shared identity from this site to
the historic Coahuiltecan culture. Archeological and linguistic
evidence, historical records, and traditional beliefs indicate that
there is a relationship of shared group identity between the historic
Coahuiltecan culture and the present-day 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 25 individuals of
Native American ancestry.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 3 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 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 and associated
funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects to the Tonkawa Tribe of
Indians of Oklahoma may proceed.
Texas A&M University is responsible for notifying the Tonkawa Tribe
of Indians of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.
Dated: February 19, 2014.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-08811 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
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