[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 12898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6513]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion: 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. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains and associated funerary 
objects in the possession of the Texarkana Museums System (formerly the 
Texarkana Historical Museum), Texarkana, TX. The human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed from Bowie County, TX.
    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 Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the 
Texarkana Museums System professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
    In 1978, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals 
were removed from the Cabe Mounds in Bowie County, TX. The human 
remains and associated artifacts were acquired by the museum through 
its then-director, Katy Caver, as part of an archeological survey of 
the region. No known individuals were identified. The 141 associated 
funerary objects are 3 pieces of pottery; 13 pottery fragments; 2 
beads; 2 projectile points; 70 lots of debitage; and 51 pre-form tools 
and fragments.
    Two of the three individuals removed from the Cabe Mounds were 
found scattered around two burials, and the remaining individual was 
found intact in a third burial. The pottery fragments, tools and tool 
fragments were found scattered among all three burials. The human 
remains and associated 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 region well into the 18th 
century. The manner of interment is consistent with Caddo tradition, as 
are the decorative and construction techniques used in the pottery 
found in proximity to the grave sites. References to the complex now 
known as the Cabe Mounds date back to the latter part of the 19th 
century and were made by C.B. Moore, one of the first to identify and 
explore Caddo sites in East Texas. The site was acquired by the 
Archaeological Conservancy in 1985.
    Officials of the Texarkana Museums System have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described above 
represent the physical remains of three individuals of Native American 
ancestry. Officials of the Texarkana Museums System also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 141 objects 
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. Lastly, officials of the Texarkana Museums 
System 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 Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated 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 human remains and associated 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. E9-6513 Filed 3-24-09; 8:45 am]
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