[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21798-21799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08815]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-14950; 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 Morris County, Red River County, and Polk County, 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 Caddo. According to records on file at TAMU,
the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma consulted with TAMU at that time and
stated their intention to request the repatriation of the remains. In
2010, representatives of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma were invited to
consult with TAMU for the purpose of determining the place and manner
of the repatriation, but no Caddo Nation of Oklahoma representatives
contacted TAMU or visited the remains in response to this invitation.
History and Description of the Remains
In 1987, human remains and associated funerary objects were removed
from the Murphy Branch site (41MX5) in Morris County, TX. At the time
of excavation, the human remains and associated funerary objects from
this site were identified as being from Burial 3 (TAMU-NAGPRA
1). In 1997, the TAMU Anthropology Collections curator noted that the
human remains were missing. These remains are still missing. The three
associated funerary objects are one Nash Neck banded jar (Vessel E),
one flowerpot shaped vessel with barkman-like design (Vessel F), and
one large McKinney Plain sherd. Based on collection records describing
the human remains, the objects are associated with the late pre-Contact
Caddo.
In the summer of 1991, human remains representing, at minimum, 24
individuals were removed from the Arnold Roitsch site (41RR16R) in Red
River County, TX, as part of the Texas Archaeological Society field
school/Texas Historical Commission. The human remains were determined
to be as follows: From Burial 20 (TAMU-NAGPRA 2), 1 adult of
indeterminate sex; from Burial 19 (TAMU-NAGPRA 3), 1 adult
male, 1 adult of indeterminate sex, and 1 subadult; from Burial
21 (TAMU-NAGPRA 4), 1 subadult of indeterminate sex; from the
Terrace Burial (TAMU-NAGPRA 5), 2 adults of indeterminate sex and 1
subadult; from Burial 18 (TAMU-NAGPRA 6), 1 adult male; from
Burial 17 (TAMU-NAGPRA 7), 1 adult female; from Burial
16 (TAMU-NAGPRA 8), 1 adult female; from Burial 15
(TAMU-NAGPRA 9), 1 adult male; from Burial 14 (TAMU-NAGPRA
10), 1 subadult; from Burial 13 (TAMU-NAGPRA 11), 2 adult
females, 1 adult male, and 1 subadult; from Burial 12 (TAMU-
NAGPRA 12), 1 adult female and 1 subadult; from Burial 11A and
11B (TAMU-NAGPRA 13), 2 adult females and 1 subadult; from Burial
10 (TAMU-NAGPRA 14), 1 adult of indeterminate sex; and from
Burial 9 (TAMU-NAGPRA 15), 1 adult male. No known individuals
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present. Based on
the presence of trade beads, diagnostic ceramic sherds, and pipes found
elsewhere at the site, these human remains are attributed to the Caddo
culture and are estimated to date from 1000 A.D. to 1740 A.D.
In 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, 1 individual were
removed from the Crawford site (41PK69) in Polk County, TX. At the time
of excavation, the remains were identified as being from an unnumbered
burial (TAMU-NAGPRA 16). The human remains were determined to belong to
a single adult male. The remains were determined to be prehistoric
Caddo based on type artifacts recovered elsewhere at the site. No known
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
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 Caddo
Nation 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
[[Page 21799]]
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 Caddo Nation of
Oklahoma may proceed.
Texas A&M University is responsible for notifying the Caddo Nation
of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.
Dated: February 3, 2014.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-08815 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
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