[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8742-8743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3785]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion: Stephen F. Austin State
University, Nacogdoches, 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 control of Stephen F. Austin State University,
Nacogdoches, TX. The human remains and associated funerary objects were
removed from Nacogdoches, Smith, and Titus Counties, 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 and associated funerary
objects was made by the professional staff of Archeological &
Environmental Consultants, LLC, under a sub-contract with the Historic
Preservation Program of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, which was under
contract with Stephen F. Austin State University.
In the early 1900s, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were recovered from Washington Square, now the Thomas
Jefferson Rusk Elementary School, in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County,
TX, by Captain H.H. Cooper, a private citizen. This area is now
designated as the Washington Square Site (41NA49). In 1930, the human
remains were donated to the Stone Fort Museum on the Stephen F. Austin
State University campus, and moved to the repository of the
anthropology lab some time after 1975. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
The human remains were determined to be affiliated with the Caddo
Nation of Oklahoma because they were recovered from a large Caddo
occupation site dating to approximately A.D. 1200-1400. The Washington
Square Site (41NA49) is located on Mound Street in Nacogdoches, so
named because of the numerous Caddo mounds that were at that location.
In 1889, a Nacogdoches newspaper article states that, ``. . . the bones
of human beings are being found in almost every cart load of dirt . .
.'' (Star News Nacogdoches, May 31, 1889, vol. 14, no. 19).
Prior to 1990, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an airport west of Tyler in Smith County,
TX, by ``Red'' McFarland, a private citizen. McFarland noted that two
ceramic vessels were associated with the skull, however, currently the
whereabouts of the two ceramic vessels is unknown. The human remains
are located in the repository of the Stephen F. Austin State University
anthropology lab. No known individual was identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
The human remains are determined to be affiliated with the Caddo
Nation of Oklahoma based on the description of the associated ceramic
vessels.
Prior to 1990, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from two miles north of Troup on the south bank
of the Kickapoo River, Smith County, TX, by ``Red'' McFarland, a
private citizen. The human remains are located in the repository of the
Stephen F. Austin State University anthropology lab. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
The human remains are determined to be affiliated with the Caddo
Nation of Oklahoma based on provenience. The human remains were removed
from a part of Texas that was occupied by the Caddo before and after
European contact.
Prior to 1990, human remains representing a minimum of one
individual were removed from an unknown location in Smith County, TX,
by an unknown individual. The human remains are located in the
repository of the Stephen F. Austin State University anthropology lab.
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
The human remains are determined to be affiliated with the Caddo
Nation of Oklahoma based on provenience. The human remains were removed
from a part of Texas that was occupied by the Caddo before and after
European contact.
In 1985, human remains representing a minimum of three individuals
were removed from two burials at the Washington Square Site (41NA49),
in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, TX, during excavations under the
direction of Dr. James Corbin, Stephen F. Austin State University
archeologist. The human remains are located in the repository of the
Stephen F. Austin State University anthropology lab. No known
individuals were identified. The 122 associated funerary objects are 49
ceramic vessels; 47 marine shell beads and fragments; 1 fragmented
marine shell pendant; 3 deer teeth; 9 pigment samples; 2 charred
organic debris samples; and a cache of lithic debris with 9 chert
flakes, 1 chert core, and 1 flake tool.
All human remains and associated funerary objects from the
Washington Square Site (41NA49) were determined to be affiliated with
the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. The ceramic styles are identified as
Caddo, which date approximately from A.D. 1200 to 1400.
In 1983, human remains representing a minimum of one individual
were
[[Page 8743]]
excavated at 41TT135 (no site name) near Lake Monticello in Titus
County, TX, during excavations by Espey Huston & Associates, Inc. In
1984, the human remains were placed in the repository of Stephen F.
Austin State University anthropology lab. No known individual was
identified. The one associated funerary object is a broken ceramic
vessel.
The human remains and associated funerary object recovered from
41TT135 have been determined to be affiliated with the Caddo Nation of
Oklahoma. The broken vessel is plain, but other artifacts from the
site, which are not funerary objects, indicate a Caddo occupation which
may pre-date A.D. 1200.
Officials of Stephen F. Austin State University have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described
above represent the physical remains of eight individuals of Native
American ancestry. Officials of Stephen F. Austin State University also
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(A), the 123
objects described 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 Stephen F. Austin
State University 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 Dr. Jerry Williams, Stephen F. Austin State
University, P.O. Box 13047, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962,
telephone (936) 468-2306, before March 29, 2010. 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.
Stephen F. Austin State University is responsible for notifying the
Caddo Nation of Oklahoma that this notice has been published.
Dated: January 22, 2010
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-3785 Filed 2-24-10; 8:45 am]
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