[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 59 (Thursday, March 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14701-14702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7798]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects From the Great Neck Site, Virginia 
Beach, VA, in the Possession of the Virginia Department of Historic 
Resources, Richmond, VA

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), 25 U.S.C. 
3003 (d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects from the Great Neck Site, Virginia Beach, 
VA, in the possession of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 
Richmond, VA.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Virginia 
Department of Historic Resources professional staff in consultation 
with representatives of Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Mattaponi, 
Monacan, Nansemond, Pamunkey, United Rappahannock, Upper Mattaponi, all 
non-Federally recognized Indian groups.
    Between the late 1970s and mid 1980s, human remains representing 52 
individuals were excavated by Floyd Painter, a local avocational 
archeologist,

[[Page 14702]]

and turned over to the Department of Historic Resources in 1985. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present in the Department of Historic Resources' collections.
    During 1981-1982, human remains representing seven individuals were 
recovered during legally authorized excavations by the Virginia 
Department of Historic Resources. No known individuals were identified. 
The five associated funerary objects include a ceramic pipe with 
tobacco residue, three copper pendents, and one copper bead.
    During 1981-1982, human remains representing five individuals were 
recovered from another component of the Great Neck site during legally 
authorized excavations by the Virginia Department of Historic 
Resources. No known individuals were identified. These individuals are 
represented by one infant burial and the previously disturbed remains 
of a minimum four individuals. The approximately 100 associated 
funerary objects with the infant burial are shell disc beads.
    The Great Neck site has been identified as a Chesapeake village 
site, possibly the village known as ``Chesepiooc'', based on historical 
documents dating back to the 15th century. The presence of shell-
tempered Townsend and Roanoke ceramics indicate this village site was 
continuously occupied by the same culture from the Late Woodland period 
through protohistoric times (900--late 1500s AD). All these burials 
appear to date to this time, and the site appears to have been 
abandoned until settlement by English colonists in 1635.
    By 1607, historical documents indicate Chesapeake people were 
attached and suffered heavy losses from the Powhatan Confederacy. The 
last mention of the Chesapeake in historical document was in 1627 
concerning a proposed attack by the English on the Chesapeakes and 
other coastal Virginia tribes. There are no known descendants of the 
Chesapeake tribe, however, historical documents and consultation 
evidence indicates the Nansemond tribe was allied with the Chesapeake 
during the 16th and early 17th century. The Nansemond Tribal 
Association is a non-Federally recognized Indian group.
    On October 28, 1994, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources 
requested a finding from the NAGPRA Review Committee concerning the 
Nansemond request for repatriation for these 64 individuals listed as 
``culturally unidentifiable'' on the Department's NAGPRA inventory. At 
its October, 1994 meeting, the NAGPRA Review Committee recommended that 
the Department consult with the seven other non-Federally recognized 
Indian groups recognized by the State of Virginia to identify any other 
possibly culturally affiliated Indian tribes or non-Federally 
recognized Indian groups. This recommendation was provided to the 
Department by the National Park Service in a letter of March 22, 1995. 
Representatives of Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Mattaponi, 
Monacan, Pamunkey, United Rappahannock, and Upper Mattaponi have all 
stated unanimous support of the Nansemond Tribal Association request 
for repatriation of these human remains and associated funerary 
objects.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Virginia 
Department of Historic Resources have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of 64 individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the 
Virginia Department of Historic Resources have also determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 105 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 Virginia Department of Historic 
Resources have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), no 
relationship of shared group identity can be reasonably traced between 
these Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and 
a Federally recognized Indian tribe. However, officials of the Virginia 
Department of Historic Resources have determined that a relationship of 
shared group identity can be reasonably traced between these Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and the 
Nansemond Tribal Association, a non-Federally recognized Indian group.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Chickahominy, Eastern 
Chickahominy, Mattaponi Tribal Association, Monacan, Nansemond Indian 
Tribal Association, Pamunkey, United Rappahannock, Upper Mattaponi, all 
non-Federally recognized Indian groups. Representatives of any 
Federally recognized Indian tribe or other valid claimant under NAGPRA 
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should contact M. Catherine 
Slusser, State Archeologist, Department of Historic Resources, 221 
Governor St., Richmond, VA 23219; telephone: (804) 225-3556, before 
April 28, 1997. Repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects to the Nansemond Tribal Association may begin after 
that date if no Federally recognized Indian tribes or other valid 
claimant under NAGPRA makes a claim.
    The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations 
within this notice.
Dated: March 19, 1997.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-7798 Filed 3-26-97; 8:45 am]
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