[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39777-39779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17217]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025997; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural
History, New York, NY
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The American 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 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 American 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 American Museum of Natural History at the
address in this notice by September 10, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, Central
Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 769-5837,
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.
[[Page 39778]]
3003, of the completion of inventories of human remains and associated
funerary objects under the control of the American Museum of Natural
History, New York, NY. The human remains and associated funerary
objects were removed from Mercer County, NJ, and Richmond County, NY.
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 American
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma, and the Delaware
Tribe of Indians. The Delaware Nation, Oklahoma, and the Delaware Tribe
of Indians invited the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin, to
attend the consultation meeting, but they did not participate.
History and Description of the Remains
In 1897, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals
were removed from the top soil of Trench D in Lalor Field, Lalor
Estate, South of Trenton, Mercer County, NJ. The human remains were
excavated by Ernest Volk during an American Museum of Natural History
(AMNH) sponsored expedition. The AMNH acquired the individuals that
same year. No known individuals were identified. The human remains
include a sub-adult who is represented by a single element and two
adults who are represented by cranial and post-cranial elements. The
sex of these individuals cannot be determined. Two associated funerary
objects--two pieces of pottery--were found with these human remains.
One of these pottery pieces is a spall with no markings on its surface,
and the other is small and fragmentary.
The top soil of Trench D at Lalor Field consists of late Middle
Woodland, Late Woodland, and early historic deposits. Thus, it is
highly likely that these human remains can be assigned to the Terminal
Middle Woodland or later. These human remains were determined to be
Native American based on their archeological context and collection
history.
In 1909, human remains, representing at minimum, 16 individuals,
were removed from the Bowman's Brook site, Mariner's Harbor, Staten
Island, Richmond County, NY, by Alanson Skinner. The AMNH acquired
these individuals as a gift that same year. No known individuals were
identified. These individuals include three sub-adults, one adult male,
10 adults of indeterminate sex and two individuals of indeterminate sex
and age. There are no associated funerary objects.
Bowman's Brook is a multi-component site, comprising part of the
larger Mariner's Harbor site complex on the northwestern shore of
Staten Island. Consisting of five distinguishable levels, its
occupation spans the Middle and Late Archaic, Early and Middle
Woodland, and the Late Woodland component for which the site is best
known, the Bowman's Brook phase. Skinner's excavations were focused on
the uppermost level. Radiocarbon dates obtained in 1986 indicate that
the burials belong to the Late Woodland period; and date from A.D.
1083153 to A.D. 134070. These human remains
were determined to be Native American based on their archeological
context and collection history.
In 1895, human remains representing at minimum, 24 individuals and
167 associated funerary objects were removed from Burial Ridge,
Tottenville, Staten Island, Richmond County, NY. These individuals were
collected by George H. Pepper and M.H. Saville as part of an AMNH
sponsored expedition. The museum accessioned the human remains and
funerary objects that same year. No known individuals were identified.
The human remains include one adult female, six adult males, two adults
who may be male, 10 adults of indeterminate sex and five sub-adults.
The 167 associated funerary objects include: 14 bone points, three
stone points; eight turtle shells; five sherds; 24 pieces of animal
bone; two pieces of worked bone; one antler piece; one flint arrow; two
pieces of mica; one flint implement; six flint blanks for arrowheads;
13 leaf-shaped flint pieces; 11 flint pieces; three stone implements;
one piece of smoky quartz; seven pieces of deer antler; five deer
bones; one lynx mandible; one piece of red clay; 53 pieces of beaver
teeth; one block of sand with shells; two valves of clam shells and two
oyster shells.
Around 1895, human remains representing, at minimum, two
individuals, were removed from a location presumed to be Burial Ridge,
Tottenville, Staten Island, Richmond County, New York, NY. These human
remains were probably collected by George H. Pepper and M.H. Saville as
part of an AMNH sponsored expedition. The museum likely accessioned the
human remains that same year. No known individuals were identified. The
human remains include two adults of indeterminate sex. There are no
associated funerary objects.
In 1900, human remains, representing at minimum two individuals and
one associated funerary object were removed from Burial Ridge,
Tottenville, Staten Island, Richmond County, NY by Mark Raymond
Harrington. The AMNH acquired the human remains and funerary objects as
a gift from F.W. Putnam in 1909. No known individuals were identified.
The human remains include one sub-adult and one adult of indeterminate
age. The one associated funerary object is a piece of deer bone.
The human remains from Burial Ridge, Tottenville, were determined
to be Native American based on archeological context, associated
funerary objects and collection history. While Burial Ridge at
Tottenville, Staten Island has Archaic through early Contact Period
components, contextual information and scholarly literature indicate
that the human remains date to the Terminal Middle Woodland and Late
Woodland Periods. Radiocarbon dates reinforce this interpretation: One
individual dates to the Terminal Middle Woodland, three additional
individuals and two nearby features date to the Late Woodland. The
individuals and associated funerary objects described in this Notice
date to the Terminal Middle Woodland or Late Middle Woodland periods.
Oral tradition recounts the Delaware migration into the region from
the west or northwest. Archeological and linguistic evidence indicates
the arrival of Delawarean-speakers in the Delaware Valley and Staten
Island no earlier than the Terminal Middle Woodland (A.D. 500-800).
Information presented by the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma and the Delaware
Tribe of Indians indicates that these three locales were traditionally
occupied by the Delaware until progressive removals westward began in
the early 1700s.
Based on oral tradition, linguistic and archeological evidence and
information presented during multiple consultations, the American
Museum of Natural History has determined that a cultural affiliation
exists between the human remains and associated funerary objects and
the Delaware (Lenape) people.
Determinations Made by the American Museum of Natural History
Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined
that:
[[Page 39779]]
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of 47 individuals of
Native American ancestry.
Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 170 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 Delaware
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and 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
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 Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural
History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024,
telephone (212) 769-5837, email [email protected], by September 10,
2018. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward,
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary
objects to the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians;
and Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin, may proceed.
The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying
the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and
Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin, that this notice has been
published.
Dated: July 10, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-17217 Filed 8-9-18; 8:45 am]
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