[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 121 (Thursday, June 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36107-36109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15379]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of
Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Walla Walla, WA
and Museum of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
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 control of the U.S. Department of
Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Walla Walla,
WA, and in the possession of the Museum of Anthropology, Washington
State University, Pullman, WA, 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.
In 1972, cultural items were removed from burials at 45AS2, Asotin
County, WA. The cultural items and burials were removed during the Nez
Perce Grave Removal Project by the University of Idaho under contract
with the Army Corps of Engineers. Following removal, the burials were
delivered to the University of Idaho. The human remains were returned
to the Nez Perce Tribe and reburied in Spalding, ID, in 1973. Between
1996 and 2000, the cultural items were transferred from the University
of Idaho to Washington State University, and are now unassociated
funerary objects. The 66 unassociated funerary objects are 34 counted
objects and 32 lots of objects. The 34 counted objects are 1 abrader, 1
adze, 1 awl, 3 bifaces, 6 cobble spalls, 5 cores, 2 digging stick
handles, 2 flake perforators, 2 hafted drills, 1 piece of incised bone,
7 pestles, 2 projectile points, and 1 fragment of worked bone. The 32
lots of objects are 4 lots of animal remains, 5 lots of antler
fragments, 2 lots of antler wedge fragments, 2 lots of antler wedges, 9
lots of flakes, 2 lots of modified flakes, 1 lot of shell beads, 5 lots
of shell remains, 1 lot of straight pins, and 1 lot of wood fragments.
In 1975, cultural items were removed from burials at 45CO1,
Columbia County, WA. The burials were removed during the Tucannon
Burial Relocation Project conducted by the University of Idaho under
contract with the Army Corps of Engineers. Following removal, the
cultural items and burials were delivered to the University of Idaho.
The human remains were reburied in Idaho in 1977. In 2000, the
remaining cultural items were transferred from the University of Idaho
to Washington State University, and are now unassociated funerary
objects. The 653 unassociated funerary objects are 95 counted items and
558 lots of objects. The 95 counted objects are 2 beaver incisors, 4
bifaces, 1 worked bone fragment, 1 bottle fragment, 13 bullet
cartridges, 3 copper pendants, 6 cores, 1 digging stick fragment, 8 elk
tooth beads, 1 hafted drill, 2 incised bone fragments, 2 incised
digging stick fragments, 1 marble, 1 net sinker, 8 stone pestles, 3
pipes, 1 piece of polished stone, 15 projectile points, 3 railroad
spikes, 6 scrapers, 4 shell pendants, 2 stone shaft abraders, and 7
pieces of worked bone. The 558 lots of objects are 4 lots of buttons or
grommets, 1 lot of ceramic fragments, 3 lots of cigar box fragments, 4
lots of clothing and shoes, 3 lots of cordage fragments, 39 lots of
flakes, 47 lots of glass and metal beads, 19 lots of glass fragments, 1
lot of matting fragments, 8 lots of metal can fragments, 30 lots of
metal fragments, 1 lot of mussel fragments, 5 lots of nails, 3 lots of
paper fragments, 327 lots of shell beads, 12 lots of shell fragments,
29 lots of shell remains, 15 lots of rolled metal tinklers, 3 lots of
utilized flakes, and 4 lots of worked bone.
In 1958 and 1959, cultural items were removed from burials at
Fishhook Island, 45FR42, Franklin County, WA. In 1958, the Columbia
Archaeological Society excavated at Fishhook Island. In 1959, the
Washington State University excavated at Fishhook Island while under
contract with the National Park Service. The 1958 and 1959 excavations
took place before the land was acquired by the Army Corps of Engineers.
At an unknown date, the human remains excavated were delivered to the
Washington State University and University of Idaho. In 2000, the
University of Idaho transferred the
[[Page 36108]]
45FR42 materials to Washington State University. In 2006, the Army
Corps of Engineers physical anthropologists inventoried the human
remains. Some of the human remains collected are not currently in the
museum collection, and are believed to have been reburied in 1991.
Burials numbers 1 through 21 were consecutively assigned by the
Columbia Archaeological Society to their excavations. Washington State
University assigned burial numbers 1 through 24 to their excavations.
The duplicate burial numbers and scant records do not, in many
instances, permit clear association of funerary objects with the
burials removed. The 45FR42 burials are estimated to range from the
proto-historic/historic time periods to the early 1920s. Native
American objects found with the burials include olivella and dentalia
shell beads and glass beads. In the early 1900s, local residents
witnessed Native American burial ceremonies held on Fishhook Island,
and remember Cayuse, Walla Walla, Wallula, and Palus people in the
general area during the late 1880s and early 1900s. Fishhook Island is
located within the overlapping 19th century territories of the Palus
and the Walla Walla people. The 171 unassociated funerary objects are
80 counted objects and 91 lots of objects. The 80 counted objects are
27 cobble spalls, 1 core, 23 elk tooth beads, 2 beaver incisors, 6 bone
awls, 1 digging stick fragment, 1 digging stick handle, 2 hafted
drills, 1 adze, 10 preforms, 4 projectile points, and 2 scrapers. The
91 lots of objects are 22 lots of flakes, 3 lots of red ochre, 24 lots
of shell beads, 5 lots of shell remains, 7 lots of animal remains, 6
lots of bag residue, 1 lot of charcoal, 2 lots of fire-cracked rock, 5
lots of glass and metal beads, 3 lots of juniper seed beads, 4 lots of
matting fragments, 1 lot of metal fragments, 3 lots of plant remains, 1
lot of shell pendant fragments, and 4 lots of wood fragments.
In 1960, cultural items were removed from burials at Ford Island,
45FR47, Franklin County, WA. Washington State University excavated at
Ford Island under contract with the Army Corps of Engineers. The
burials were delivered to the University of Idaho and Washington State
University. The human remains are thought to have been reburied before
1985. In 1992, a Washington State University inventory recorded the
presence of Burial 6 materials in the collection. Between 1996 and
2000, the University of Idaho transferred materials to Washington State
University. In 2003, the transferred materials were inventoried, and
the presence of Burial 9 materials was recorded along with funerary
objects from other 45FR47 burials. The burials associated with the
45FR47 collection are Native American as demonstrated by the presence
of Native American Plateau objects, Plateau burial patterns, and
eyewitness accounts of Indian people living on Ford Island in the
1900s. Dentalia shell beads start to be common in the Plateau
archeological record about 3,000 years ago. Glass beads became
available to Indian groups from the 1780s through the 1810s. Early and
late ethnographic documentation indicates the island is located within
the overlapping 19th century territories of the Palus and Walla Walla
people. The 165 unassociated funerary objects are 17 counted objects
and 148 lots of objects. The 17 counted objects are 2 bells, 1 copper
ring, 1 copper screw, 1 hammerstone, 1 metal ring, 2 net sinkers, 1
ochre stained ground stone, 3 shell ornaments, 1 spoon, 1 spoon handle,
1 preform, 1 core, and 1 pipe. The 148 lots of objects are 1 lot of
animal remains, 1 lot of bag residue, 3 lots of buttons, 2 lots of
charcoal, 21 lots of fabric remains, 5 lots of flakes, 51 lots of glass
and metal beads, 2 lots of glass beads, 2 lots of glass fragments, 7
lots of leather fragments, 27 lots of metal fragments, 1 lot of nails,
7 lots of organic remains, l lot of soil, and 17 lots of wood
fragments.
In 1963, cultural items were removed from 45WT2, Whitman County,
WA. The excavation took place under contract with the National Park
Service and before the land was acquired by the Army Corps of
Engineers. The cultural items were with Burial 1 when excavated. At an
unknown date, the materials associated with this excavation were
delivered to Washington State University and the University of Idaho.
In 2000, one box of materials was transferred from the University of
Idaho to Washington State University. The Burial 1 remains are not
labeled and the funerary objects are therefore no longer associated.
The three unassociated funerary objects are one counted object and two
lots of objects, which are one pestle, one lot of red ochre, and one
lot of wood fragments.
In 1977 and 1978, cultural items were removed from burials at
45WT53, Whitman County, WA. In 1977, Burials 1 and 2 were removed by
the University of Idaho while under contract with the Army Corps of
Engineers. Following removal, the cultural items and burials were
delivered to the University of Idaho and Washington State University.
In 1978, Burials 3 through 5 were removed by the University of Idaho
while under contract to the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Nez
Perce Grave Recovery Project. Following removal, the cultural items and
burials were delivered to the University of Idaho and Washington State
University. The human remains from both excavations were reburied at
Spalding, ID, in 1978. In 2000, the cultural items from both
excavations were transferred from the University of Idaho to Washington
State University, and are now unassociated funerary objects. The 149
unassociated funerary objects are 17 counted objects and 132 lots of
objects. The 17 counted objects are 2 bone pendants, 1 digging stick
handle, 2 hammerstones, 1 incised bone fragment, 5 stone beads, 5 stone
knives, and 1 tack. The 132 lots of objects are 6 lots of animal
remains, 2 lots of bone awl fragments, 23 lots of bone beads, 1 lot of
buttons, 4 lots of elk tooth beads, 35 lots of flakes, 44 lots of glass
trade beads, 3 lots of leather fragments, 8 lots of shell beads, 2 lots
of ochre stained cobbles, 2 lots of red and yellow ochre, and 2 lots of
soil.
In 1967, cultural items were removed from burials at the Ferguson
Burial Site, 45WT55, Whitman County, WA. The Washington State
University field school excavated Burials 1 through 7 prior to land
acquisition by the Army Corps of Engineers. The burials were delivered
to Washington State University following removal. At an unknown time,
the human remains were transferred to the University of Idaho where a
pre-NAGPRA program of repatriation was ongoing. In 2000, the University
of Idaho transferred the remaining 45WT55 collection back to Washington
State University. Site 45WT55 is adjacent to judicially established Nez
Perce Indian land and within the overlapping 19th century territories
of the Palus and Nez Perce people. The unassociated funerary items are
six lots of wood fragments.
In 1971, cultural items were removed from burials at 45WT101,
Whitman County, WA. The University of Idaho removed 33 burials while
under contract to the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Nez Perce
Grave Removal Project. The 45WT101 burials were reported as reburied at
Spalding, ID, in 1978. In 1998 and 2000, the University of Idaho
transferred the collection to Washington State University. In 2001,
during a collections assessment inventory, the Washington State
University encountered cultural items associated with many of the
burials. The cultural items are now unassociated funerary objects. The
88 unassociated funerary objects are 24 counted objects and 64 lots of
objects. The 24 counted objects are 2 abalone shell pendants, 1
abrading stone, 1 biface, 4 bone gaming
[[Page 36109]]
pieces, 1 incised stone, 1 nipple topped maul, 1 modified pebble, 6
preforms, 4 projectile points, 1 scraper, and 2 stone pipes. The 64
lots of objects are 1 lot of abalone shell fragments, 3 lots of antler
fragments, 21 lots of flakes, 2 lots of red ochre, 24 lots of shell
beads, 2 lots of shell remains, and 11 lots of modified wood fragments.
Six lines of evidence - geographical, archeological,
anthropological, linguistic, oral tradition, and historical - support
cultural affiliation of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville
Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon,
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and the Nez Perce
Tribe with the unassociated funerary objects identified in the above-
mentioned sites and collections. Additionally, a cultural relationship
is determined to exist between the unassociated funerary objects and
the Wanapum Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group. Other
relevant information provided by the Indian tribes and the Wanapum Band
indicates they are direct descendant communities from the Native people
that jointly used this area, are intermarried, have enrolled members
with documented connections to ancestors buried along the Snake River,
and are all part of the more broadly defined Plateau cultural
community.
Officials of the U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of
Engineers, Walla Walla District, have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 1,301 objects, which are 268 counted objects and
1,033 lots of 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 and are believed, by a
preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific
burial site of Native American individuals. Officials of the U.S.
Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District,
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 Confederated Tribes
of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm
Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of
the Yakama Nation, Washington; and the Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho. Lastly,
officials of the U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers,
Walla Walla District, have determined that there is a cultural
relationship between the unassociated funerary objects and the Wanapum
Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated to the unassociated funerary objects should
contact LTC Michael Farrell, U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of
Engineers, Walla Walla District, 201 North Third Avenue, Walla Walla,
WA 99362, telephone (509) 527-7700, before July 26, 2010. Repatriation
of the unassociated funerary objects to the Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs
Indian Reservation of Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of the
Yakama Nation, Washington; and Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho, may proceed
after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Lastly, the
U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla
District, acknowledges the participation of the Wanapum Band, a non-
federally recognized Indian group, in the transfer of the unassociated
funerary objects to the Indian tribes.
The U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Walla
Walla District, is responsible for notifying the Confederated Tribes of
the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm
Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon; Confederated Tribes and Bands of
the Yakama Nation, Washington; Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho; and the Wanapum
Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group, that this notice has
been published.
Dated: June 18, 2010
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-15379 Filed 6-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S