[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63886-63887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27396]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of The State Museum 
of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA

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 in the possession of The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 
Harrisburg, PA.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this 
notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by The State 
Museum of Pennsylvania professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Seneca Nation of New York, the Seneca-Cayuga 
Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New 
York.
    At an unknown time, human remains representing one individual were 
removed from the Conestoga Indian Town Site (36La52), Manor Township, 
Lancaster County, PA by Samual Farver. Mr. Farver donated these remains 
to The State Museum of Pennsylvania in 1961. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown time, human remains representing 3 individuals and 86 
associated funerary objects were removed from the Conestoga Indian Town 
Site by Robert Ditchburn. Mr. Ditchburn donated the remains and objects 
to The State Museum of Pennsylvania in 1967. No known individuals were 
identified. The objects include shell, glass, and seed beads; woven 
fabric fragments; miscellaneous iron fragments; an iron knife blade; 
lead musket balls; a pewter spoon; wood fragments; and a brass 
medallion, rings, and wire chain segments.
    In 1972, human remains representing 86 individuals and 63,176 
associated funerary objects were removed during excavations by The 
State Museum of Pennsylvania at the Conestoga Indian Town Site. No 
known individuals were identified. The objects include animal fragments 
(bone refuse, fur/hair, turtle shell fragments, snail shell), beads 
(catlinite, shell, glass, seed, wampum, bone, brass, wood), bone combs, 
brass kettles, brick fragments, buckskins (with and without fur 
attached), charcoal fragments, clothing fasteners (brass and iron 
buckles; pewter, brass, wood with brass casing, and iron(?) buttons; 
straight pins), catlinite effigies, glass fragments (goblet stems, 
cruets, medicine bottles, miscellaneous), gun parts (lock, trigger 
guard, barrel, side plates, frizzen, flints, ramrod, brass buttplate, 
buckskin bullet pouch, bullet

[[Page 63887]]

mold, lead musket balls, powder horn fragments, gunpowder), 18th 
century ceramics (comb slipware mug, redware sherds, redware pitcher, 
redware dish, redware cup), iron tools (axe, hoe, claw hammer, awl, 
knife blades with wooden and bone clasps and handles, nails and screws, 
scissors), iron and brass mouth harps, mirror fragments, miscellaneous 
brass items (bands, wire, bands around fabric, hinge, vanity box, 
washers, thimbles, hawk and sleigh bells, kettles), miscellaneous iron 
items (spring, needle-like fragments fused with string, pot fragments, 
snuff boxes), miscellaneous lead fragments, miscellaneous leather 
fragments (thongs, thong fragment with a brass rivet, shoe parts), 
miscellaneous pewter fragments, miscellaneous seeds and nuts, 
ornamentation (medallion; rings; chain fragments; jinglers; coins; 
coils; cross; wire choker; cufflinks; bracelets; shell, catlinite, and 
other stone pendants; pewter crucifix and turtle; shell disc; gorget; 
runtees; silver broaches, crucifix, and hair ornaments), smoking pipes 
(kaolin, pewter, earthenware), spectacles (brass wire with lenses), 
spoons (pewter, wood, brass), stone tools (arrow shaft fragments, flint 
core, hammerstone, brass and stone projectile points), strike-a-lights, 
textile fragments (cordage, woven cloth with and without 
brocade),whetstones, and wood fragments including bowl and barrel 
fragments.
    The Euroamerican assemblage of objects dates the burials to the 
18th century. Ethnohistoric, documentary, and archeological evidence 
indicates that the Conestoga Indian Town Site was occupied by Seneca 
and Susquehannock Indians between A.D. 1700-1763. There is no evidence 
to contradict this.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of The State 
Museum of Pennsylvania have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of 90 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of The State 
Museum of Pennsylvania also have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(2), the 63,262 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 State Museum of Pennsylvania have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity that 
can be reasonably traced between these Native American human remains 
and associated funerary objects and the Seneca Nation of New York, the 
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca 
Indians of New York.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Seneca Nation of New 
York, the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of 
Seneca Indians of New York. Representatives of any other Indian tribe 
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should contact Stephen G. 
Warfel, Senior Curator, Archaeology, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 
300 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0024, telephone (717) 783-2887, 
before November 24, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Seneca Nation of New York, the 
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca 
Indians of New York may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.

    Dated: October 16, 2000
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships
[FR Doc. 00-27396 Filed 10-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F