[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69961-69962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29808]


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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 Rochester 
Museum and Science Center, Rochester, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

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 Rochester Museum and Science 
Center, Rochester, NY.
    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 and associated funerary 
objects was made by Rochester Museum and Science Center professional 
staff in consultation with representatives of the Cayuga Nation of New 
York, the Oneida Nation of New York, the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, the 
Onondaga Nation of New York, the Seneca Nation of New York, the Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New 
York, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community of

[[Page 69962]]

Mohican Indians of Wisconsin, the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of 
New York, and the Tuscarora Nation of New York.
    In 1929, partial human remains representing 19 individuals were 
recovered from the Great Gully site (Young Farm, Aub 003) in Ledyard, 
Cayuga County, NY, by Harrison Follett during an expedition conducted 
by the Rochester Municipal Museum (now the Rochester Museum and Science 
Center). No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    Based on skeletal morphology, these individuals have been 
identified as Native American. Based on site location and the condition 
of the human remains, the Great Gully site has been identified as a 
Cayuga occupation, and possibly the site of the Jesuit mission of St. 
Joseph to the Cayugas, dating to circa A.D. 1650-1687.
    In 1935, human remains representing 13 individuals were recovered 
from the Elmer Rogers site (Wpt 001) in Savannah, Wayne County, NY, by 
Dr. William A. Ritchie during a field expedition conducted by the 
Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences (now Rochester Museum and Science 
Center). No known individuals were identified. The 61 associated 
funerary objects are 1 ceramic pipe bowl, 1 sword blade, 1 iron 
fishhook, 1 antler powder measure, 1 iron knife, 1 sharpening stone, 4 
animal ribs, 1 iron dirk, 1 saw, 2 iron scrapers, 5 iron spear points, 
4 curved iron knives, 3 iron knife blades, 1 hickory nut, 4 wooden 
ladle fragments, 2 brass kettles, 1 bone-handled iron knife, 1 iron 
drill, 2 brass and wood fragments, 19 worked pieces of shell, 1 iron 
axe, 1 bear canine, and 3 spherical glass beads.
    Based on skeletal morphology, these individuals have been 
identified as Native American. Based on site location, the condition of 
the human remains, and continuities of material culture, the Elmer 
Rogers site has been identified as a Cayuga occupation, and possibly 
the site of the Jesuit mission of St. Rene to the Cayugas, dating to 
circa A.D. 1668-1684.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Rochester Museum and Science Center have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the 
physical remains of 32 individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the Rochester Museum and Science Center also have 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2(d)(2), the 61 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 Rochester Museum and 
Science Center 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 Cayuga Nation of New York and the Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cayuga Nation of New 
York, the Oneida Nation of New York, the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, the 
Onondaga Nation of New York, the Seneca Nation of New York, the Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New 
York, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin, 
the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York, and the Tuscarora 
Nation 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 Connie Bodner, NAGPRA 
Liaison, Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Avenue, 
Rochester, NY 14607-2177, telephone (716) 271-4552, extension 345, 
before December 21, 2000. Repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects to the Cayuga Nation of New York and the 
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma may begin after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: November 14, 2000.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 00-29808 Filed 11-20-00; 8:45 am]
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