[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32845-32846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15305]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the U.S. 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Lake Meredith 
National Recreation Area, Fritch, TX

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 and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the U.S. Department of the 
Interior, National Park Service, Lake Meredith National Recreation 
Area, Fritch, TX.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
National Park Service unit that has control or possession of these 
Native American human remains. The Assistant Director, Cultural 
Resources Stewardship and Partnerships is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    A detailed assessment and inventory of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects has been made by professional staff of the 
National Park Service in consultation with representatives of the Caddo 
Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Indian 
Tribe, Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Cheyenne-Arapaho 
Tribes of Oklahoma; and Wichita & Affilitated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, 
Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma. The Cohuiltecan Nation, a non-Federally 
recognized Native American group, also was consulted.
    In 1961, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
during a legally-authorized survey of State site 41P2, then under the 
management of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Reclamation. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present. Items found elsewhere at the site indicate that 
these human remains probably were buried during the Late Prehistoric 
period (A.D. 900-1700).
    In 1964, human remains representing a minimum of 22 individuals 
were recovered during legally-authorized excavation by F.E. Green of 
Texas Tech University at the Footprint site, then under the management 
of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. No known 
individuals were identified. The 83 associated funerary objects are 2 
shell pendants, 68 shell beads, 3 tool fragments, 3 beveled knives, 1 
triangular knife, 1 Borger cordmarked pot, 4 bone awls, and 1 fragment 
of burned animal bone. The associated funerary objects indicate that 
these human remains probably were buried during the Antelope Creek 
Focus of the Plains Village-Panhandle Aspect (A.D. 1100-1400).
    On March 15, 1965, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, then 
called Sanford National Recreation Area, came under the joint 
administration of the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park 
Service. Control of the collections recovered prior to that date has 
been assumed by the National Park Service.
    In 1967, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
during legally-authorized excavation near the Footprint site. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present. 
These human remains are believed to date to the same time as the 
Footprint site.
    In June 1969, human remains representing a minimum of four 
individuals were recovered during legally-authorized excavations by the 
Texas Archeological Society at the Blue Creek site. No known 
individuals were identified. The 264 associated funerary objects are 
253 potsherds, 3 chipped stone flakes, 1 unworked mammal bone fragment, 
3 Washita type stone arrow points, 1 bison tibia digging stick, and 3 
unidentified lithic specimens. The associated funerary objects indicate 
that these human remains probably were buried during the Plains 
Village-Panhandle Aspect (A.D. 1100-1400).
    Archeological information indicates a continuous occupation of the 
Texas panhandle area from A.D. 1 through the Plains Village-Panhandle 
Aspect. Wichita oral tradition links these earlier populations with the 
Escanxaques, or Iscani people, a constituent band of the present-day 
Wichita & Affilitated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), 
Oklahoma. Kiowa oral tradition indicates Kiowa occupation of the Lake 
Meredith area during prehistoric times.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, the superintendent of 
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area has determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the 
physical remains of 28 individuals of Native American ancestry. The 
superintendent of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area also has 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the 336 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 a 
death rite or ceremony. Lastly, the superintendent of Lake Meredith 
National Recreation Area has determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(e), 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 Wichita & Affilitated Tribes 
(Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma and the Kiowa Indian 
Tribe of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Caddo Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Indian Tribe, Oklahoma; 
Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma; 
and Wichita & Affilitated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), 
Oklahoma. This notice has also been sent to officials of the 
Cohuiltecan Nation, a non-Federally recognized Native American group. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should contact John C. Benjamin, Superintendent, Lake Meredith 
National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1460, 419 East Broadway, Fritch, TX 
79036, telephone (806) 857-3151, before July 18, 2001. Repatriation of 
the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Wichita & 
Affilitated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie),

[[Page 32846]]

Oklahoma and the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: April 5, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-15305 Filed 6-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F