96-4319. Notice of Inventory Completion of Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, Tulsa, OK

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7275-7276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4319]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion of Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the United States 
Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, Tulsa, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 
3003(d), of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects in the possession of the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Tulsa District, Tulsa, OK.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects has been made by Tulsa District 
professional staff in consultation with the Wichita and Affiliated 
Tribes, the Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, 
and the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma.
    In June 1988, these human remains were exposed by shoreline erosion 
at site 34ST2, Waurika Lake and were subsequently removed from the 
ground by the Stephens County Sheriff's Department. In September 1988, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel removed the partial remains of 
one individual from the same site. At this time, the Stephens County 
Sheriff's Department turned over the human remains recovered in June to 
the Army Corps of Engineers.
    The human remains from site 34ST2 consist of a minimum of three 
individuals. No known individuals were identified. A total of twenty-
eight cultural items were found with the human remains, including 
grinding stones, pottery fragments, stone tools, and animal bone 
fragments (bison and deer).
    Site 34ST2 has been estimated to date to 500-1500 AD based on 
diagnostic cultural items including pottery fragments, stone tools, and 
chipped stone debris discovered adjacent to the burials. The continuity 
and styles of pottery types and stone tools strongly indicate 
occupation by the same cultural group throughout this period. These 
pottery and tool types are consistent with styles used by the Wichita 
and Affiliated Tribes during the early contact period. Oral history 
evidence presented by representatives of the Wichita and Affiliated 
Tribes as well as continued post-contact use and occupancy indicates 
this area to be well within the traditional use and occupancy area of 
the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District have determined, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of at least three individuals of Native American ancestry. 
Officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have also determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(A) and (B), the 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects and the 
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes of Oklahoma.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Wichita and 
Affiliated Tribes, the Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma, the Kiowa Tribe of 
Oklahoma, the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Caddo Tribe of 
Oklahoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these human remains and 
associated funerary objects should contact Mr. Robert W. Jobson, NAGPRA 
Coordinator, Planning Division, USACE, Tulsa District, P.O. Box 61, 
Tulsa, OK 74121-0061, phone [phone] before March 28, 1996. 

[[Page 7276]]
Repatriation may begin after this date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
Dated: February 21, 1996
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-4319 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]
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