[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 24501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10316]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects From Arkansas in the Possession of the 
Arkansas Archeological Survey, Fayetteville, AR

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects from Arkansas in the possession of the Arkansas 
Archeological Survey, Fayetteville, AR.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Arkansas 
Archeological Survey professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma.
    During 1991-1997, human remains representing 39 individuals were 
recovered from Parkin State Park during excavations conducted by the 
Arkansas Archeological Survey in cooperation with the Quapaw Tribe of 
Indians, Oklahoma under a Memorandum of Agreement. No known individuals 
were identified. The 36 associated funerary objects include an Old Town 
red human head effigy vessel, Mississippian ceramics and sherds, mussel 
shells and fragments, unidentified animal bones and fragments, charred 
maize cobs, fossil and bone beads, a debitage flake, chert blade and 
scraper, marine shell fragments, a hemitite fragment, and a projectile 
point.
    Based on French colonial records, the Quapaw were known to be the 
only tribe present in the St. Francis River valley area near the mouth 
of the Arkansas River c. 1700 A.D. Although no definite Quapaw villages 
have been identified in the St. Francis River valley where the Parkin 
site is located, the Quapaw tribe may have used that area as an 
important hunting territory. Oral history evidence presented by 
representatives of the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma indicates a 
migration from the north to their location near the mouth of the 
Arkansas River.
    The Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma has maintained a strong 
interest in the Parkin site. The Quapaw Tribe entered into an agreement 
with the State of Arkansas when the site was acquired for an 
archeological park to help coordinate research and development at the 
park.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Arkansas 
Archeological Survey have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of 39 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Arkansas Archeological Survey have also determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2(d)(2), the 36 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 Arkansas Archeological Survey have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2(e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which 
can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains 
and associated funerary objects and the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, 
Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Quapaw Tribe of 
Indians, Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should contact Paddy Murphy, Director, 
Historic Resources and Museum Services, Arkansas State Parks, One 
Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201; telephone: (501) 682-3603, before 
May 26, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Quapaw Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: April 10, 2000.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and 
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 00-10316 Filed 4-25-00; 8:45 am]
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