[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 50 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12190-12191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4727]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, MA. The human remains were removed from Plymouth County, MA.
    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.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation on 
behalf of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts; 
Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation, a non-federally recognized Indian 
group; and Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized 
Indian group.

[[Page 12191]]

    Between 1890 and 1900, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from Watson's Hill, south side of Town Brook, 
in Plymouth, Plymouth County, MA, by the Douglas family while the 
family was digging a cellar for their house. The human remains were 
transferred to Dr. George H. Jackson of Plymouth at an unknown date. In 
1939, the human remains were donated to the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology by Dr. Jackson through the Pilgrim Society of 
Plymouth. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Osteological characteristics indicate that the individuals are 
Native American. The interments most likely date to the Late Woodland 
period or later (post-A.D. 1000). Historical documentation, as well as 
information from the Pilgrim Society, describes Watson's Hill as a 
known Late Woodland (A.D. 1000-1500) and Historic/Contact period (post-
A.D. 1500) Native American site. Oral tradition and historical 
documentation also indicate that Plymouth is within the aboriginal and 
historic homeland of the Wampanoag Nation. The present-day tribes that 
are most closely affiliated with the Wampanoag Nation are the Wampanoag 
Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts; Assonet Band of the 
Wampanoag Nation, a non-federally recognized Indian group; and Mashpee 
Wampanoag Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
    Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains 
described above represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology 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 Native American human remains and 
the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts. 
Furthermore, officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology have determined that there is a cultural relationship between 
the human remains and the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation, a non-
federally recognized Indian group, and Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe, 
a non-federally recognized Indian group.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Patricia 
Capone, Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, 
telephone (617) 496-3702, before April 16, 2007. Repatriation of the 
human remains to the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation on behalf of 
the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts; Assonet 
Band of the Wampanoag Nation, a non-federally recognized Indian group; 
and Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized Indian 
group may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is responsible for 
notifying the Wampanoag Repatriation Confederation, Wampanoag Tribe of 
Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts; Assonet Band of the Wampanoag 
Nation, a non-federally recognized Indian group; and Mashpee Wampanoag 
Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized Indian group that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: January 30, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-4727 Filed 3-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S