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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 106574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31297]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039266; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of 
Natural History, Norman, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural 
History (SNOMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet 
the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a 
cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after January 29, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Marc Levine, Associate Curator of Archaeology, Sam Noble 
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 
Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone (405) 325-1994, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
SNOMNH, and additional information on the determinations in this 
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the 
summary or related records. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of 731 cultural items from four sites have been requested 
for repatriation.
    The 138 unassociated funerary objects were removed from the A.W. 
Davis site (34Mc6) in McCurtain County, OK. Following extensive 
looting, the University of Oklahoma carried out excavations at the site 
in June and July of 1955 and transferred the objects to the Museum that 
same year. The 138 unassociated funerary objects include one 
reconstructed decorated ceramic bowl, three decorated potsherds, 133 
undecorated potsherds, and one sample of hematite pigment.
    The 452 unassociated funerary objects were removed from the Clement 
1 site (34Mc8) in McCurtain County, OK. The site was excavated in 1941 
by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the associated material 
was transferred to the Museum the same year. The 452 unassociated 
funerary objects include one Taylor engraved ceramic bowl, five ceramic 
vessels, 44 Hodges engraved potsherds, three decorated potsherds, and 
399 undecorated potsherds.
    The 115 unassociated funerary objects were removed from the 
McDonald 1 site (34Mc11) in McCurtain County, OK. This site was 
excavated by the WPA in 1941 and 1942, then resurveyed in 1965 by the 
University of Oklahoma. The associated materials were transferred to 
the Museum in 1965. The 115 unassociated funerary objects are 17 
ceramic vessels, five bowls, four bottles, three jars, three partially 
reconstructed vessels, 82 potsherds, and one clay sample.
    The 26 unassociated funerary objects were removed from the McDonald 
2 site (34Mc12) in McCurtain County, OK. This site was excavated by the 
WPA in 1941 and 1942, and the associated material was transferred to 
the Museum in 1965. The 26 unassociated funerary objects are two 
ceramic bowls, two undecorated ceramic vessels, three partially 
reconstructed vessels, one bag of decorated potsherds, 17 sherds, and 
one sample of baked clay.

Determinations

    The SNOMNH has determined that:
     The 731 unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with 
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death 
or later, as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance 
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after January 29, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the SNOMNH must determine the most 
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint 
repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are 
considered a single request and not competing requests. The SNOMNH is 
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and 
Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any 
other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: December 19, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-31297 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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