[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12894-12895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6510]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Texarkana Museums 
System, Texarkana, 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. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Texarkana Museums 
System (formerly the Texarkana Historical Museum), Texarkana, TX, that 
meet the definition of ``unassociated funerary objects'' under 25 
U.S.C. 3001.
    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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    From 1971 to 2008, private citizens from Miller County, AR, and 
Bowie County, TX, donated 209 unassociated funerary objects to the 
museum. There are no associated human remains in the museum collection 
for these funerary objects. The 209 unassociated funerary objects are 
57 pieces of pottery; 2 stone tools; 1 projectile fragment; 2 stone 
knives; 7 clay pipes; 5 ear spools; and 135 pottery fragments.
    The objects were found in Southwest Arkansas, Northeast Texas, and 
Southeast Oklahoma. These areas are associated with the Caddo Nation, 
and are in close proximity to identified and suspected Caddo burial 
sites. The decorative and construction techniques used in the pottery 
are consistent with Caddo traditional techniques and with other 
identified Caddo artifacts found in proximity to Caddo grave sites in 
the region. The unassociated funerary objects are related to the Caddo 
Nation who settled the Red River Valley more than 1,200 years ago. The 
Caddo Nation remained a strong presence in this

[[Page 12895]]

region well into the 18th century. Based on material culture and 
provenience, the unassociated funerary objects are reasonably believed 
to be culturally affiliated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. 
Representatives of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma have viewed the 
unassociated funerary objects and support a cultural affiliation of the 
Caddo Nation with these objects.
    Officials of the Texarkana Museums System have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the 209 cultural items 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual. Officials of the Texarkana Museums System also 
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 unassociated funerary objects and the Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact J.A. Simmons, Texarkana Museums System, PO Box 2343, Texarkana, 
TX 75504, telephone (903) 793-4831, before April 24, 2009. Repatriation 
of the unassociated funerary objects to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Texarkana Museums System is responsible for notifying the Caddo 
Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: March 10, 2009
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-6510 Filed 3-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S