[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 7275-7276] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-4319] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Notice of Inventory Completion of Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, Tulsa, OK AGENCY: National Park Service ACTION: Notice ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003(d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects in the possession of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, Tulsa, OK. A detailed inventory and assessment of the human remains and associated funerary objects has been made by Tulsa District professional staff in consultation with the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, the Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. In June 1988, these human remains were exposed by shoreline erosion at site 34ST2, Waurika Lake and were subsequently removed from the ground by the Stephens County Sheriff's Department. In September 1988, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel removed the partial remains of one individual from the same site. At this time, the Stephens County Sheriff's Department turned over the human remains recovered in June to the Army Corps of Engineers. The human remains from site 34ST2 consist of a minimum of three individuals. No known individuals were identified. A total of twenty- eight cultural items were found with the human remains, including grinding stones, pottery fragments, stone tools, and animal bone fragments (bison and deer). Site 34ST2 has been estimated to date to 500-1500 AD based on diagnostic cultural items including pottery fragments, stone tools, and chipped stone debris discovered adjacent to the burials. The continuity and styles of pottery types and stone tools strongly indicate occupation by the same cultural group throughout this period. These pottery and tool types are consistent with styles used by the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes during the early contact period. Oral history evidence presented by representatives of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes as well as continued post-contact use and occupancy indicates this area to be well within the traditional use and occupancy area of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District have determined, pursuant to 43 CFR 10 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains of at least three individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(A) and (B), the objects listed 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. Lastly, officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between the human remains and associated funerary objects and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes of Oklahoma. This notice has been sent to officials of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, the Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact Mr. Robert W. Jobson, NAGPRA Coordinator, Planning Division, USACE, Tulsa District, P.O. Box 61, Tulsa, OK 74121-0061, phone (918) 669-7193 before March 28, 1996. [[Page 7276]] Repatriation may begin after this date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: February 21, 1996 Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program. [FR Doc. 96-4319 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-F