[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17572-17573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8419]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects From Nebraska and Kansas in the 
Possession of the Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.


ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provision of the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S. C. 
3003(d), of the completion of an inventory of Native American human 
remains and associated funerary objects from forty-six (46) sites in 
Nebraska currently in the possession of the Nebraska State Historical 
Society, Lincoln, NE.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of these human remains and 
associated funerary objects has been made by the Nebraska State 
Historical Society professional curatorial, archeological staff, and 
outside specialists in physical anthropology, in consultation with 
representatives of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and twenty-nine (29) 
other tribes.
    In 1990 and 1991, the Nebraska State Historical Society repatriated 
human remains representing over 550 individuals and over 33,000 
associated funerary objects from thirty-three (33) sites to the Pawnee 
Tribe of Oklahoma. Additional human remains and cultural objects from 
twelve (12) of these sites have since been discovered as part of the 
inventory process. These include: 25BU1 (the Linwood site) in Butler 
County, NE, 2 bone fragments representing 2 individuals previously 
repatriated; 25HM2 (the Burial Ridge One site) in Hamilton County, NE, 
5 bone fragments from one previously repatriated individual; 25MK14 in 
Merrick County, NE, 2 funerary objects formerly associated with a 
previously repatriated burial; 25NC3 (the Wright site) in Nance County, 
NE, 22 bone fragments from two previously repatriated individuals; 
25NC11 (the Vogel site) in Nance County, NE, a bone fragment from one 
previously repatriated individual; 25NC20 (the Genoa Village site) in 
Nance County, NE, bone fragments and 13 funerary objects from one 
previously repatriated individual; 25NC23 in Nance County, NE, 47 bone 
fragments and one funerary object formerly associated with two 
previously repatriated individuals; 25PK1 (the Clarks site) in Polk 
County, NE, 2 bone fragments representing two individuals and 98 
funerary objects formerly associated with three previously repatriated 
burials; 25PT1 (the Larson site) in Platte County, NE, isolated bone 
fragments and one bone fragment representing one individual; 25PT31 
(the Christman site) in Platte County, NE, an isolated bone fragment 
representing one individual; 25SD2 (the Leshara site) in Saunders 
County, NE, 2 bone fragments from one previously repatriated 
individual; and 25WT1 (Pike Pawnee or the Hill Farm site) in Webster, 
NE, 4 bone fragments and 129 funerary objects formerly associated with 
three individuals. Each of these twelve (12) sites have been identified 
as Pawnee (1750-1876) occupations based upon historic written records, 
cultural continuities, and geographical coincidence with identified 
Pawnee sites.
    The Nebraska State Historical Society also intends to repatriate 
human remains representing a minimum of 71 individuals and 84 funerary 
objects from eighteen (18) sites identified as Central Plains 
tradition. These include: 14SA1 (the Whiteford Ossuary) Saline County, 
Kansas, 1 individual; 25CC1 (the Ashland site) Cass County, NE, 16 
individuals with 74 funerary objects; 25CC17 (the Theodore Davis site) 
Cass County, NE, 1 individual; 25CC29 (the Kunkel Ossuary) Cass County, 
NE, 13 individuals with 3 funerary objects; 25CC214, Cass County, NE, 1 
individual; 25CD3 (the Wiseman site), Cedar County, NE, 2 individuals; 
25DO3 (the Bexten site) Douglas County, NE, 1 individual; 25FT4 (the 
Medicine Creek site) Frontier County, NE, 1 individual; 25GY2 (the 
Wittwer site) Greeley County, NE, 1 individual; 25JF4 in Jefferson 
County, NE, 1 individual with 4 funerary objects; 25MD3 in Madison 
County, NE, 1 individual; 25NC12 (the Elmer Cunningham site) Nance 
County, NE, 1 individual; 25NH1 (the Heywood site) in Nance County, NE, 
12 individuals; 25SD28 in Saunders County, NE, 1 individual; 25SY1 (the 
Farnsworth or Fremont I site) in Sarpy County, NE, 4 individuals; 
25SY11 (the Sieh site) in Sarpy County, NE, 1 individual; 25WN3 (the 
Kelly site) in Washington County, NE, 12 individuals; and 25WN5 (the 
Renne site) in Washington County, NE, 1 individual with 3 funerary 
objects. Each of these sites have been identified as 
[[Page 17573]] representing Central Plains tradition (A.D. 1000--1400) 
components based on the presence of previously defined diagnostic 
traits involving: ceramic decoration, stone tool form and function, 
architecture, chronology, mortuary custom, subsistence pattern, 
settlement pattern and geographic location.
    The Central Plains tradition is recognized by many anthropologists, 
based on a preponderance of the evidence, as ancestral to the present-
day Pawnee/Arikara, and possibly the Wichita, through recognition of 
broad similarities and continuity in material culture, geography, and 
architecture. In addition, Pawnee and Arikara oral traditions conform 
to anthropologically-based evidence showing cultural affiliation 
between these groups and the Central Plains tradition. The Wichita and 
Arikara have agreed to allow the Pawnee to claim these remains.
    The Nebraska State Historical Society also intends to repatriate 
other human remains representing a minimum of 28 individuals and 228 
funerary objects from sixteen (16) sites within the Pawnee aboriginal 
lands. These include: 25AP54 part of the Elkhorn Valley Project in 
Antelope County, NE, 1 individual; 25BF15 in Buffalo County, NE, 1 
individual with 1 funerary object; 25BF26 in Buffalo County, NE, 1 
individual; 25BU1 in Butler County, NE, 1 individual with 14 funerary 
objects; 25BU11 in Butler County, NE, 1 individual; 25CU1 (the Forsythe 
site) in Custer County, NE, 2 individuals; 25FR32 (the West Bloomington 
Ossuary) in Franklin County, NE, 1 individual with 151 funerary 
objects; 25GY0 in Greeley County, NE, 1 individual; 25HN0 in Harlan 
County, NE, 3 individuals with 3 funerary objects; 25HN2 (the Stevenson 
site) in Harlan County, 9 individuals with 58 funerary objects; 25HT14 
in Holt County, NE, 1 individual; 25HW00 in Holt County, NE, 1 
individual; 25HW9 (the Bert Mortensen site) in Howard County, NE, 1 
individual; 25NC0 in Nance County, NE, 1 individual; 25SM16 in Sherman 
County, NE, 1 individual; and 25VY0 in Valley County, NE, 1 individual 
with 4 funerary objects.
    The unrebutted evidence is that each of these sites is located 
within Pawnee aboriginal lands as adjudicated by the Indian Claims 
Commission. These lands were occupied historically by the Pawnee Tribe 
to the exclusion of other tribes, as adjudicated by the Indian Claims 
Commission; and the Pawnee Tribe has a strong attachment to and 
affiliation with its aboriginal homeland by virtue of its long 
occupation spanning centuries. Thus, the totality of these 
circumstances establish a Pawnee cultural affiliation with these sites 
by a preponderance of the evidence in the opinion of the Nebraska State 
Historical Society. Moreover, this opinion and finding of cultural 
affiliation is bolstered by a careful evaluation of these remains by 
Nebraska State Historical Society staff and other experts, mentioned in 
paragraph two of this Notice, which determined that the remains from 
these sites cannot be assigned to any other tribal group or other 
defined archeological context. On the basis of all of the foregoing 
types of evidence, these remains are reasonably believed by the 
Nebraska State Historical Society to be culturally affiliated with the 
Pawnee Tribe.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Nebraska 
State Historical Society have determined that pursuant to 25 U.S. C. 
3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identify which can be 
reasonably traced between these human remains and funerary objects and 
the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. All of the objects are reasonably 
believed to have been placed with or near individual Native American 
human remains either at the time of death or later as part of a death 
rite or ceremony.
    Inventory of the human remains and funerary objects and review of 
accompanying documentation from the forty-six (46) sites listed above 
indicate that no known individuals were identifiable.
    The notice has been sent to officials of the Pawnee Tribe of 
Oklahoma, the Three Affiliated Tribes, and the Wichita and Affiliated 
Tribes. Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself 
to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and funerary 
objects should contact Gail DeBuse Potter, Senior Museum Curator, 
Nebraska State Historical Society, PO Box 82554, Lincoln, NE 68501, 
telephone (402) 471-4759, fax: (402) 471-3314, on or before May 22, 
1995. Repatriation of the objects of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma may 
begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    Dated: March 24, 1995.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,Chief, Archeological Assistance 
Division.
[FR Doc. 95-8419; Filed 4-5-95; 8:45 am]
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