[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28267-28268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13042]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025557: PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Berkshire Museum has completed an inventory of human 
remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations, and has

[[Page 28268]]

determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains 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 should submit a 
written request to the Berkshire Museum. If no additional requestors 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the 
Berkshire Museum at the address in this notice by July 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Jason Vivori, Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, 
MA 01201, telephone (413) 443-7171 ext. 341, 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. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains under 
the control of the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA. The human remains 
were removed from Yankton, Yankton County, SD.
    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. 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 
Berkshire Museum professional staff in consultation with Ann Marie 
Mires of the Department of Anthropology at the University of 
Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. Several attempts were made to contact the 
Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota's NAGPRA representative by 
telephone in mid-November of 1995. Also, a letter with the inventory 
and osteological analysis was sent to the tribe by mail on November 16, 
1995. There was no response to the letter by the Yankton Sioux Tribe of 
South Dakota at that time.

History and Description of the Remains

    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individuals were removed from ``a mound'' in South Dakota. A typed note 
stored with the skull states ``Skull. Found by Rev. Edward R. Bradley, 
Lincoln Mass. Found in a mound in open prairie. The top of the mound 
was flat and twenty feet across. They were digging a cellar for a house 
and found other bones besides, Presented by P. Bradley.'' Handwritten 
in pencil on the note ``S. Dakota Yankton.'' Marked in ink on the right 
and left parietal section of the skull is ``48286 S. Dak,'' and marked 
in ink on the frontal section of the skull is ``48286 S.D.'' No known 
individuals were identified.
    The age and exact location of the site is unknown, based on 
available records. No accession record or documentation of donation to 
the Berkshire Museum has been found. Osteological examination was 
performed by Ann Marie Mires of the Department of Anthropology at the 
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, and a completed report was 
submitted to the Berkshire Museum on November 9, 1995. Based on the 
examination Ms. Mires was able to determine that the skull probably 
belonged to a female individual between 30 and 50 years of age. 
Biological affinity was determined ``Native American or Mongoloid'' due 
to a ``series of morphological and metric characteristics.'' These 
measurements were deemed tentative ``due to the fragmentary nature of 
the remains,'' and might suggest ``a mixed racial ancestry for this 
individual, combing Caucasian and Mongoloid descent.''

Determinations Made by the Berkshire Museum

    Officials of the Berkshire Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

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 Jason 
Vivori, Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, 
telephone (413) 443-7171 ext. 341, email [email protected], 
by July 18, 2018. After that date, if no additional requestors have 
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Yankton 
Sioux Tribe of South Dakota may proceed.
    The Berkshire Museum is responsible for notifying the Yankton Sioux 
Tribe of South Dakota that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 9, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-13042 Filed 6-15-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P