[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 221 (Tuesday, November 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63945-63946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30681]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Oregon State
Museum of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9,
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated
funerary objects in the possession of the Oregon State Museum of
Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Oregon State
Museum of Anthropology (OSMA) professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
In 1957 or earlier, human remains representing two individuals were
removed from the area of Upper Birch Creek or Pierson Creek in Umatilla
County, OR and donated to OSMA by a donor whose name is withheld at the
request of OSMA. No known individuals were identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
In 1972, human remains representing five individuals were recovered
from an eroding area of the west bank of the Snake River at Farewell
Bend, Malheur County by officers from the Malheur County Sheriff's
Office and transferred to the OSMA. No known individuals were
identified. The one associated funerary object is a basalt flake.
Based on skeletal morphology and archeological context, the
individuals from the two sites above have been identified as Native
American. Historical documents, ethnographic sources, and oral history
indicate that Cayuse people have occupied this north-eastern area of
Oregon surrounding these two sites since precontact times. The Cayuse
are one of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
In 1965, human remains representing two individuals were recovered
from site 35UM35, within the town of Umatilla, OR during legally
authorized excavations conducted by University of Oregon archeologists.
No known individuals were identified. The approximately five associated
funerary objects include one pounder, a piece of quartzite, bones of a
gray fox, fragments of mussel shell, and unworked flakes.
[[Page 63946]]
In 1985, human remains representing one individual were recovered
along the Pendleton-John Day Highway on the north bank of Granite
Creek, Umatilla County, OR by an Oregon Department of Transportation
construction crew. No known individual was identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
Based on skeletal morphology and archeological context, the
individuals from the two sites above have been identified as Native
American. Historical documents, ethnographic sources, and oral history
indicate that Umatilla people have occupied this north-eastern area of
Oregon surrounding these two sites since precontact times. The Umatilla
are one of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Oregon
State Museum of Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR
10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical
remains of ten individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of
the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology have also determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the three objects listed above 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 Oregon State Museum of Anthropology
have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a
relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced
between these Native American human remains and associated funerary
objects and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Confederated Tribes
of the Umatilla Reservation. Representatives of any other Indian tribe
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human
remains and associated funerary objects should contact C. Melvin
Aikens, Oregon State Museum of Anthropology, 1224 University of Oregon,
Eugene, OR 97403-1224; telephone: (541) 346-5115, before December 17,
1998. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation may begin after
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: November 4, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-30681 Filed 11-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
