[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 95 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27846-27847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9454]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: Texas Archeological Research 
Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, 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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the control of the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, 
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Fisher and Lubbock 
Counties, TX.
    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 and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Texas 
Archeological Research Laboratory professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma. The Kiowa Tribe 
of Indians of Oklahoma did not respond when

[[Page 27847]]

invited to consult with the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory 
professional staff.
    In 1951, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed out of a wall of the Yellowhouse Canyon, east of Lubbock, 
Lubbock County, TX, by Dr. Grayson Meade, a geologist at Texas 
Technological College. Subsequently, the human remains were given to 
the Texas Memorial Museum at The University of Texas at Austin. The 
human remains were recently discovered in an unrelated department and 
transferred to Texas Archeological Research Laboratory in 2006. No 
known individual was identified. The 136 associated funerary items are 
1 lot moccasin fragments; 6 copper bell fragments; 1 belt cap box; 1 
hinge-clasp ring; 1 metal bucket; 1 metal buckle with a fragment of 
leather belt; 1 piece of glass; 1 Remington-Beals cap and ball revolver 
(first manufactured in 1858); 12 buttons; 1 lot of hair and twine; 2 
grommets on wool fabric; 2 conglomerates of leather, soil, cloth, and 
rock; 2 metal ornaments; 1 lot of metal pieces; 63 separate metal 
pieces; 3 iron rings; 1 bridle bit; 4 metal and leather fragments; 4 
metal pins and ring fragments; 1 iron knife with a wooden handle in a 
leather scabbard; 6 metal conchos; 2 lots of leather fragments; 7 
separate grommeted leather pieces; 7 metal fragments with leather 
strips; 1 lot of tubular bone pipe beads; 1 lot of glass trade beads; 1 
lot of leather, metal, and fabric fragments; 1 antler flaking tool; and 
1 piece of cinnabar (mercury ore).
    The mode of interment and the associated funerary objects indicate 
a late Historic Southern Plains association.
    In 1960, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed from the Watson site (41FS1), Fisher County, TX, by an 
amateur archeologist. The burial was in a standing position in a 
crevice in the ground facing to the southwest. No known individual was 
identified. The 140 associated funerary objects are 13 brass bracelets, 
1 brass button, 8 brass rings, 15 cloth fragments, 1 lot of glass 
beads, 1 piece of hammered copper, 42 hawk bells, 1 iron axe, 3 iron 
nails, 9 leather fragments, approximately 40 metal fragments, 1 mirror 
glass, and 5 pieces of wood.
    Dr. Doug Owsley, Forensic Anthropologist, National Museum of 
Natural History, reports that the physical characteristics of this 
individual indicate a Comanche or Kiowa affiliation. The associated 
funerary objects indicate the human remains are from the historic 
period. The Fisher and Lubbock Counties are within the territory 
inhabited by both the Comanche and Kiowa Indians during the 1800s.
    Officials of the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory 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 Texas Archeological Research 
Laboratory also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(3)(A), the 276 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. Lastly, officials of 
the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory 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 associated funerary objects and the Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma and Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact Darrell Creel, Director, Texas Archeological 
Research Laboratory, 1 University Station R7599, Austin, TX 78712, 
telephone (512) 471-6007, before June 18, 2007. Repatriation of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Texas Archeological Research Laboratory is responsible for 
notifying the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma and Kiowa Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 12, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-9454 Filed 5-16-07; 8:45 am]
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