[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35432-35433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12552]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030349; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Field Museum of Natural History, 
Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Field Museum of Natural History has completed an inventory 
of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or 
Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a 
cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of 
these human remains should submit a written request to the Field Museum 
of Natural History. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer 
of control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian 
Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may 
proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the Field 
Museum of Natural History at the address in this notice by July 10, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Helen Robbins, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S Lake 
Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665-7317, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 under 
the control of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL. The 
human remains were removed from Tappan's Island, Lincoln County, ME, 
and Whaleback Midden, Lincoln County, ME.
    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. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Field 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the following Indian Tribes belonging to the 
Wabanaki Confederacy: the Aroostook Band of Micmacs (previously listed 
as Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians); Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; 
Passamaquoddy Tribe; and the Penobscot Nation (previously listed as 
Penobscot Tribe of Maine)(hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted 
Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    Sometime in the 1880s or 1890s, human remains representing, at 
minimum, two individuals were removed from shell heaps near the 
Damariscotta River in Lincoln County, ME, by Fellows Knowlton. 
Knowlton's collection of archeological material from shell middens was 
sent to the Field Museum of Natural History by his son, James E 
Knowlton, in February of 1894. Neither set of remains was identified as 
human due to their fragmentary nature until 2008. Both individuals were 
grouped by Knowlton with faunal remains from the sites, and they were 
subsequently cataloged as faunal when they were accessioned. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    One individual, represented by Field Museum catalog #49781, was 
removed from Tatman's Island (alternate spellings include Tappan's, 
Datman's, Tattan's, and Tatmares). Objects from the same assemblage 
suggest that the human remains most likely date to the post-contact 
period. The human remains are culturally affiliated to the Penobscot 
Nation based on historical sources and oral traditional information.
    The second individual, represented by Field Museum catalog #49961, 
was removed from Whaleback Midden. Objects from the same assemblage 
suggest that the human remains most likely date to the post-contact 
period. The human remains are culturally affiliated to the Penobscot 
Nation based on historical sources and oral traditional information.

[[Page 35433]]

Determinations Made by the Field Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     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 the Penobscot Nation (previously listed as 
Penobscot Tribe of Maine).

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Helen 
Robbins, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, 
Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665-7317, email 
[email protected], by July 10, 2020. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Penobscot Nation (previously listed as Penobscot 
Tribe of Maine) may proceed.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
The Consulted Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 15, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-12552 Filed 6-9-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P