[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 3, 2020)] [Notices] [Pages 34227-34228] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2020-11962] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030267; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (Museum) at the University of Oklahoma has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, 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 associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a written request with information in support of the request to the Museum at the address in this notice by July 6, 2020. ADDRESSES: Dr. Marc Levine, Associate Curator of Archaeology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone (405) 325-1994, 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 and associated funerary objects under the control of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Muskogee County, OK. 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. Consultation A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Caddo Nation of [[Page 34228]] Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes''). History and Description of the Remains In 1957, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals were excavated by the University of Oklahoma at site 34Ms20 in Muskogee County, OK. At an unknown date, the associated cultural materials were transferred to the Museum. The human remains include the partial skeleton of an adult male 20-35 years old that were commingled with remains of a child 7-9 years old, a young adult 18-22 years old of indeterminate sex, and a young adult 20-30 years old of indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified. The eight associated funerary objects are faunal bone fragments. Based on the presence of diagnostic artifacts (chipped and ground stone, ceramics, bone tools and ornaments), the human remains and associated funerary objects were most likely interred at site 34Ms20 during the Mississippian Period (A.D. 1000-1500). Furthermore, the diagnostic material is consistent with cultural distribution patterns in the Arkansas River Valley. The archeological data, together with ethnohistoric data, ethnographic data, and tribal oral histories, show that the human remains and associated funerary objects are culturally affiliated with the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma. Determinations Made by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Officials of the Sam Noble Oklahoma 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 four individuals of Native American ancestry. Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the eight objects described in this notice 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. 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 Tribes. 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a written request with information in support of the request to Dr. Marc Levine, Associate Curator of Archaeology, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone (405) 325-1994, email [email protected], by July 6, 2020. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published. Dated: May 4, 2020. Melanie O'Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2020-11962 Filed 6-2-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312-52-P