[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 32682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15821]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
from Missouri and Florida in the Possession of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife 
Service, Valley Stream, 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 from Missouri and 
Florida in the possession of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Valley 
Stream, NY.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by U.S. Fish & 
Wildlife professional staff in consultation with representatives of 
Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
    On March 16, 1998, Mr. William Stevens, owner of the Evolution: 
Natural History in New York City, pled guilty to selling Native 
American human remains under 53 U.S.C. 18 Sec. 1170. Since September 
16, 1997, the following Native American human remains have been in the 
possession and control of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a 
result of the investigation and seizures from Evolution: Natural 
History and Mr. Stevens.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing two individuals were 
taken from Caruthersville, MO by person(s) unknown and delivered into 
Mr. William Stevens' possession under unknown circumstances. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing one individual were 
taken from Pemiscot County, MO by person(s) unknown and delivered into 
Mr. William Stevens' possession under unknown circumstances. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Based on cranial morphology, these human remains have been 
identified as Native American. Although information obtained during the 
seizure of these human remains indicates a date range of 500 A.D. to 
1400 A.D., the apparent age of the remains is estimated at ``several 
hundred years'' based on expert evaluation of these remains. Within the 
last several hundred years, village sites within Pemiscot County, 
Missouri have been occupied by bands of the Illinois Confederacy into 
the protohistoric period. The present-day descendent of the Illinois 
Confederacy is the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Fish & Wildlife Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of three individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of the U.S. 
Fish & Wildlife Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be 
reasonably traced between these Native American human remains and the 
Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing a minimum of seven 
individuals were removed from Florida by person(s) unknown and 
delivered into Mr. William Stevens' possession under unknown 
circumstances. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Based on cranial morphology, these human remains have been 
identified as Native American. The apparent age of the remains is 
estimated at ``several hundred years'' based on expert evaluation of 
these remains.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Fish & Wildlife Service have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical remains 
of a minimum of seven individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group 
identity which can be reasonably traced between these Native American 
human remains and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Peoria Tribe of 
Indians of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and the Seminole 
Nation of Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that 
believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains 
should contact Mr. Edward Grace, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 70 E. 
Sunrise Highway, Suite 419, Valley Stream, NY 11581; telephone: (516) 
825-3950 ext. 232, before July 15, 1998. Repatriation of the human 
remains to the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and the Seminole 
Tribe of Florida may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
    The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations 
within this notice.
Dated: June 9, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-15821 Filed 6-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F