2014-29904. Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Army, Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, Fort Sill, OK

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum 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 to the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum. 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 Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum at the address in this notice by January 21, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Scott A. Neel, Director, Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, OK 73503, 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 Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, Fort Sill OK. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Fort Sill, Comanche 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) 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 the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (previously listed as the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma); Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; The Chickasaw Nation; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

History and Description of the Remains

In the early 1970s, human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals were removed from four crevice burials (sites 34CM134-34CM137) in the Cross Mountain and Rabbit Hill areas of Fort Sill. A number of crevice burials located on Fort Sill property had been disturbed and looted by the local populace and, in the 1970s, were salvaged by the Director of the Museum and Fort Sill personnel. The human remains and associated funerary objects were documented and collected and have been curated by the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum since excavation. No known individuals were identified. The 4,727 associated funerary objects are 25 brass wire bracelets, 25 unidentified metal fragments, 1 small box with hinged lid, 1 metal buckle, 1 metal ring, 7 pieces of metal earrings, 1 piece of leather, 40 shell hair pipes, 4 mammal bones, 25 fragments of fibrous material, 13 fragments of metal buttons, 13 historic pottery fragments with decoration, 145 sequins, 2,608 seed beads of various colors, 1,736 tubular beads, and 82 barrel shaped beads.

At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were removed from unknown locations, presumably on Fort Sill property. The human remains were included in the ethnological collections of the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum. The human remains include a scalp (#91.21.9) and a rattle made of human remains (#91.21.25). No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum

Officials of the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice are Native American based on the geographic location, artifact typologies, and burial practices,
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 7 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 4,727 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 or the Court of Federal Claims, the land from which the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of {list tribes in alphabetical order per the BIA list: http://www.gpo.gov/​fdsys/​pkg/​FR-2012-08-10/​pdf/​2012-19588.pdf}.
• Treaties, Acts of Congress, or 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 Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (previously listed as the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma); Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.
• Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (previously listed as the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma); Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

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. Scott A. Neel, Director, Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, OK 73503, telephone [phone], email [e-mail], by January 21, 2015. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (previously listed as the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma); Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma, may proceed.

The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum is responsible for notifying the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (previously listed as the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma); Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; The Chickasaw Nation; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma, that this notice has been published.

Dated: November 24, 2014.

Melanie O'Brien,

Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.