[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14061-14062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5857]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has completed an 
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined 
that there is no cultural affiliation between the remains and 
associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribe. 
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects may contact the museum. Disposition of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes stated below may occur 
if no additional requestors come forward.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the human remains should contact the Denver 
Museum of Nature & Science at the address below by April 14, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh, Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370-
6378.

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 in the possession of the Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, Denver, CO. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from Miami-Dade County and possibly Monroe County, 
FL.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 Denver 
Museum of Nature & Science professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Seminole 
Nation of Oklahoma, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big 
Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations) (hereinafter 
referred to as ``The Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1964, human remains representing a minimum of two individuals 
were removed from a burial context at an unknown mound site in the 
Upper Keys of Miami-Dade County, FL, by Jerry Ellis and Dr. David 
Milliman. On July 21, 1964, Francis V. and Mary W.A. Crane obtained the 
human remains from Mr. Ellis. The Cranes donated the remains to the 
museum in 1968 and they were accessioned into the collections (AC.8315A 
(CUI 68) and AC.8315B (CUI 69)). The remains include partial cranial 
fragments representing two adult males. Catalogue records suggested a 
possible affiliation of Calusa. No known individuals were identified. 
The six associated funerary objects are one clam shell mortar and 
pestle, one shell drill, one shell pendant, and two shell scrapers 
(DMNS catalogue numbers AC.8316A-B; AC.8317; AC.8318; AC8319; and 
AC.8320).
    Between 1957 and 1958, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were reportedly removed from a burial context at the Tallman 
Site on Plantation Key, Monroe County, FL, by Hugh and Hilda Davis, Dan 
Laxson, and George B. Stevenson. Additional catalogue records, however, 
indicate that the same human remains may have been removed from the 
DuPont Plaza Site in Miami-Dade County, FL. In 1959, Stevenson and 
Laxson donated the remains and various other materials excavated from 
the site to the Southeast Museum of the American Indian (a private 
museum founded by Francis V. and Mary W.A. Crane). In 1968, the Cranes 
donated their collection to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (then 
the Denver Museum of Natural History) (AC.9248A (CUI 70)). No known 
individual was identified. The 100 associated funerary objects are 94 
animal bones, 1 potsherd, 3 coral fragments, 1 shell fragment, and 1 
bag of dirt and unsorted animal skeletal material (DMNS catalogue 
number AC. 9248B).

[[Page 14062]]

    These remains and other materials were catalogued as 9248 within 
the Crane Collection. The majority of the Crane American Indian 
Collection was accessioned into the collections with the same catalogue 
number assigned by the Cranes, but preceded by AC. However, the human 
remains and other material excavated from Plantation Key, FL, were 
accessioned into the archeology collection as A558 instead of AC.9248. 
It appears that the human remains were stored in a separate box within 
the rest of the archeological material from the Plantation Key 
excavation. In 1998, that box was removed from the archeology 
collections and assigned catalogue number AC.9248. The contents of the 
box were sorted into two distinct groups, the human remains and 100 
associated funerary objects. Several hundred objects from the 
Plantation Key excavation remain in the archeology collections and are 
still catalogued as A558, and the museum is working in consultation 
with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida to deaccession the 
remaining portion of the Plantation Key and DuPont Plaza materials 
(DMNS catalogue number A558).

Determinations Made by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined 
that:
    <bullet> Based on non-destructive physical analysis and catalogue 
records, the human remains are Native American.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian tribe.
    <bullet> According to final judgments of the Indian Claims 
Commission, the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and the Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, 
Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations).
    <bullet> Multiple lines of evidence, including treaties, Acts of 
Congress, and Executive Orders, indicate that the land from which the 
Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed is the aboriginal land of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of 
Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida (Dania, Big Cypress, 
Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations).
    <bullet> Other credible lines of evidence, obtained through 
consultation with tribal representatives, indicate that the land from 
which the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed is the aboriginal land of The Tribes.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of three individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 106 objects 
described 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.
    <bullet> Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains is to The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the human remains or any other Indian tribe 
that believes it satisfies the criteria in 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1) should 
contact Dr. Chip Colwell-Chanthaphonh, Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370-
6378, before April 14, 2011. Disposition of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed after that date 
if no additional requestors come forward.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
The Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 9, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-5857 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P