2014-24516. Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The University of Michigan 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 no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 University of Michigan. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES:

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 University of Michigan at the address in this notice by November 17, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of Michigan Office of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 S. Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

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 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from private land in Lapeer County, MI.

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 43 CFR 10.11(d). 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 University of Michigan officials in consultation with representatives of the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan; Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan (formerly the Huron Potawatomi, Inc.); Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan; and the Wyandotte Nation, Oklahoma.

Additional requests for consultation were sent to the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin; Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Fond du Lac Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Forest County Potawatomi Community, Wisconsin; Grand Portage Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin; Leech Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota; Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma; Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas; Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, California and Arizona; Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota; Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin; St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota; and the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.

Hereafter, all tribes listed in this section are referred to as “The Tribes.”

History and Description of the Remains

From 1923 to 1935, human remains representing, at minimum, 94 individuals were removed from the Younge site (20LP1) in Lapeer County, MI. The site is located on farmland north of Imlay City and had been plowed over for years. Between 1923 and 1935, amateur archaeologist Carman Baggerly collected at the site with the landowner's permission. Baggerly donated many of the human remains and objects to the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA) over that period. These donations prompted a UMMAA excavation of the site that occurred from July 19 to November 5, 1935, under the direction of Wilbert Hinsdale and Emerson Greenman.

UMMAA's excavation found 2 distinct structures at the site based on the presence of post molds. These structures were recorded as Enclosures 1 and 2. The structures were described as successively re-built longhouses standing parallel to one another with walls approximately 5-6 feet thick. All of the burials were found within or near Enclosure 1, which was only partially excavated. Archaeologists found hearths and pits filled with a mixture of ashes, charcoal, faunal bones, and tobacco pipe fragments above the burials throughout Enclosure 1. Excavations found 57 distinct burial features, with 16 additional site features having human remains. The individuals included both males and females, ages ranging from infants to older adults. No known individuals were identified. A variety of burial types were found at the site including extended burials, bundle burials, torso burials, and cremations. One burial was noted as containing red ochre. Many of the human remains found within Enclosure 1 show considerable evidence of post-mortem modifications. Post-mortem modifications included cutting, shaving and drilling of the ends of long bones; drilled perforations, smaller than 3cm diameter, at the top of crania and 1 manubrium; and plaque disc removals, larger than 3cm diameter, cut from either the top or back of crania. Some remains were noted as found rearticulated, with the modified heads of femora inserted into the obturator foramen of the pelvis. Between 1996 and 2006, 1 lot of DNA extractions was taken from human remains in this site collection.

The human remains date to the Late Woodland Period (900-1300 A.D.) based on objects found at the site. The 812 associated funerary objects present are 789 ceramic sherds, 20 black bear bone fragments, 1 stone celt, 1 ceramic elbow pipe, and 1 lot of red ochre and soil.

Determinations Made by the University of Michigan

Officials of the University of Michigan have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice are Native American based on cranial morphology, dental traits, accession documentation, and archeological context.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 94 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 812 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), a relationship of shared group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribe.
• According to final judgments of the Indian Claims Commission, the land from which the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
• Treaties, Acts of Congress, and Executive Orders indicate that the land from which the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of The Tribes.
• Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects may be to The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

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. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of Michigan Office of Research, 4080 Fleming Building, 503 S. Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340, telephone [phone], email [e-mail], by November 17, 2014. 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 University of Michigan's Office of Research is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

Dated: September 22, 2014.

Melanie O'Brien,

Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.