[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8741-8742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3768]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Stephen F. Austin 
State University, Nacogdoches, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the control of Stephen F. Austin State 
University, Nacogdoches, TX, that meet the definition of ``unassociated 
funerary objects'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the unassociated funerary objects was made 
by the professional staff of Archeological & Environmental Consultants, 
LLC, under a sub-contract with the Historic Preservation Program of the 
Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, which was under contract with Stephen F. 
Austin State University.
    In 1957, 15 cultural items were removed from a pre-contact burial 
when workmen were excavating a grave site in Oak Grove Cemetery in 
Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, TX. This area was later determined to 
be part of the Washington Square Site (41NA49). The human remains from 
this burial were not saved and no known individuals were identified. 
The objects were placed in the Stone Fort Museum on the Stephen F. 
Austin State University campus. The objects are considered to be 
unassociated funerary objects and were moved to the repository of the 
Stephen F. Austin State University anthropology lab after 1975. The 15 
unassociated funerary objects are 1 ceramic vessel and 14 chipped stone 
arrow points.
    The unassociated funerary objects are determined to be affiliated 
with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. The ceramic and arrow point styles 
were identified as Caddo, dating from approximately A.D. 1200 to 1400.
    Prior to 1977, human remains and cultural items were removed from 
41NA113 (no site name) in Nacogdoches County, TX, by David Tucker, a 
private citizen. The human remains were not documented and the current 
location of the human remains is unknown. Since the whereabouts of the 
human remains is not known, the funerary objects are considered to be 
unassociated. The five unassociated funerary objects are two ceramic 
vessels, one long Olivella shell bead with a longitudinal perforation, 
and two small round light aqua glass beads.
    The unassociated funerary objects from 41NA113 (no site name) were 
determined to be affiliated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. The 
ceramic styles were identified as Caddo and date from A.D. 1500 to 
1800. The glass beads date the burial to the time of European contact 
in the area.
    In 1983, a burial with four ceramic vessels but no preserved human 
skeletal remains was excavated at 41PN48 (no site name) in the Martin 
Lake Mine in Panola County, TX. The four ceramic vessels are considered 
to be unassociated funerary objects because no human remains were 
preserved in the burial. Professional archeologists from Espey, Huston 
& Associates, Inc. excavated the burial. The four ceramic vessels were 
placed in the repository of the university's anthropology lab in 1984.
    The unassociated funerary objects from 41PN48 (no site name) were 
determined to be affiliated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. The 
ceramic styles were all identified as Caddo and date to after A.D. 
1250. The small size of the ceramic vessels may suggest the burial of a 
child.
    Prior to 1975, an unknown number of burials were excavated in the 
Greasy Creek area of Camp County, TX, by unknown individuals. The human 
remains are not in the university's collection. The exact date of when 
the unassociated funerary objects vessels were placed in the repository 
of the university's anthropology lab is not known because they were 
never accessioned. The unassociated funerary objects are two ceramic 
vessels.
    The two unassociated funerary objects recovered from the Greasy 
Creek area were determined to be affiliated with the Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma. The ceramic styles were identified as Caddo and date to A.D. 
1400-1600.
    In 1991, three ceramic vessels were removed from a single shovel 
test at site 41SY83 (unnamed site), in Shelby County, TX, by 
professional archeologists from Espey, Huston & Associates, Inc. The 
cultural items were recovered from 40-60 cm below ground surface; clay 
was encountered at 70 cm below ground surface. No human remains were 
observed, but the context of the three ceramic vessels was interpreted 
as a human burial. The ceramic vessels from 41SY83 are therefore, 
considered unassociated funerary objects.
    The three unassociated ceramic vessels recovered from (unnamed 
site) 41SY83 were determined to be affiliated with the Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma. The ceramic styles were all identified as Caddo and date to 
A.D. 1400-1600.
    Sometime prior to 1975, burials were excavated near Alto in 
Cherokee County, TX, by unknown individuals. An unassociated funerary 
object from this excavation was placed in the Stone Fort Museum on the 
Stephen F. Austin University campus at an unknown date, and was moved 
to the repository of the university's anthropology lab after 1986. The 
unassociated funerary object is one ceramic vessel.
    The unassociated funerary object recovered from Cherokee County was 
determined to be affiliated with the Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma. The style 
of the ceramic vessel is Caddo and dates to A.D. 1200-1400.
    Prior to 1975, an unknown number of burials were excavated by 
unknown individuals in unknown counties of East Texas. The human 
remains are not in the possession of the university. The exact date of 
when these unassociated funerary objects were placed in the repository 
of the university's anthropology lab is not known, as these

[[Page 8742]]

vessels were never accessioned. The unassociated funerary objects are 
two ceramic vessels.
    The two unassociated funerary objects were determined to be 
affiliated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. The style of the ceramic 
vessels is Caddo and dates to A.D. 1400-1600.
    Officials of the Stephen F. Austin State University also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 32 objects 
described 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. Officials of the Stephen F. Austin State 
University also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between the unassociated funerary objects and the Caddo Nation 
of Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Dr. Jerry Williams, Stephen F. Austin State University, P.O. 
Box 13047, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, telephone (936) 468-
2306, before March 29, 2010. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary 
objects to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma may proceed after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.
    Stephen F. Austin State University is responsible for notifying the 
Caddo Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 22, 2010
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-3768 Filed 2-24-10; 8:45 am]
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