2024-26090. Notice of Intended Repatriation: Yale Peabody Museum, Yale University, New Haven, CT

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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039002; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Yale ( print page 89031) Peabody Museum, Yale University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes in this notice.

DATES:

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after December 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Professor David Skelly, Director, Yale Peabody Museum, P.O. Box 208118, New Haven, CT 06520-8118, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Yale Peabody Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

A total of eight cultural items have been requested for repatriation. Circa 1915, the eight cultural items were removed from various burial contexts by Warren K. Moorehead, who is known to have conducted an extensive archaeological survey of Maine between 1912 and 1920. The cultural items were transferred to George Thompson before they were donated to the Yale Peabody Museum in 1926.

The two unassociated funerary objects are one spearhead and one plummet removed from Emerson Cemetery in Hancock County, ME.

The one unassociated funerary object is one spearhead removed from Hartford's Cemetery in Hancock County, ME.

The one unassociated funerary object is one lot of red ochre removed from Sullivan Falls Cemetery in Hancock County, ME.

The three unassociated funerary objects are three gouges removed from Stevens Cemetery in Knox County, ME.

The one unassociated funerary object is one gouge removed from Hathaway's Cemetery in Penobscot County, ME.

Determinations

The Yale Peabody Museum has determined that:

• The eight unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a reasonable connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Mi'kmaq Nation (previously listed as Aroostook Band of Micmacs); Passamaquoddy Tribe; and the Penobscot Nation.

Requests for Repatriation

Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.

Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after December 12, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Yale Peabody Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Yale Peabody Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

Dated: October 29, 2024.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.