2014-08809. Notice of Inventory Completion: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Texas A&M University has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a written request to Texas A&M University. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES:

Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a written request with information in support of the request to Texas A&M University at the address in this notice by May 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Dr. Suzanne L. Eckert, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone [phone].

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 under the control of Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. The human remains were removed from Bell County, TX.

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). 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. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Consultation

A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Texas A&M University (TAMU) professional staff in 1995. In 2010, representatives of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma were invited to consult with TAMU for the purpose of determining the place and manner of the repatriation. The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma contacted TAMU with an interest in having these remains repatriated; no representatives from the other tribes contacted TAMU in response to this invitation.

History and Description of the Remains

At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals were removed from Brown Rockshelter (41BL128) in Bell County, TX. The collection history of these human remains is vague. However, it is suspected that they are part of a larger group of “salvaged burials” from Bell County that were donated to TAMU. At the time of donation, these human remains were identified as being from Burial #4 (TAMU-NAGPRA 18). The human remains were determined to be 1 adult female, 1 adult male, and 1 subadult. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from site 41BL282 in Bell County, TX, by the TAMU Anthropology Club. The human remains from this site were identified as being from Feature 2 (TAMU-NAGPRA 19). The human remains were determined to be one adult of indeterminate sex. Dart points found nearby date the human remains to the Early Ceramic (before 700 A.D.) period. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were removed from looter's backdirt at site 41BL287 in Bell County, TX, by the TAMU Anthropology Club. The human remains from this site were identified as being from Feature 7 (TAMU-NAGPRA 20). The human remains were determined to be 1 adult of indeterminate sex and 1 subadult. Dart points found nearby date the human remains to the Early Ceramic (before 700 A.D.) period. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from site 41BL291 in Bell County, TX, by the TAMU Anthropology Club. The human remains from this site were identified as being from Feature 13 (TAMU-NAGPRA 21). The human remains were determined to be 1 adult of indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, five individuals were removed from looter's backdirt at site 41BL293 in Bell County, TX, by the TAMU Anthropology Club. The human remains from this site were identified as being from Feature 11 (TAMU-NAGPRA 22). The human remains were determined to be 1 adult female, 1 adult male, 1 adult of indeterminate sex, and 2 subadults. Dart points found nearby date the human remains to the Early Ceramic (before 700 A.D.) period. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, 10 individuals were removed from an unknown site in Bell County, TX. The collection history of these human remains is vague. However, it is suspected that they are part of a larger group of “salvaged burials” from Bell County that were donated to Texas A&M University. At the time of donation to TAMU, these human remains were identified as “material salvaged from looted sites in Bell County” (TAMU-NAGPRA 23). The human remains were determined to be 1 adult female, 3 adult males, 1 adult of indeterminate sex, and 5 subadults. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were removed from Camp Tahaya in Bell County, TX. The collection history of these human remains is vague. However, it is suspected that they are part of a larger group of “salvaged burials” from Bell County that were donated to TAMU. At the time of donation to TAMU, these human remains were identified as “material supposedly salvaged from a site in Bell County and donated to TAMU collection” (TAMU-NAGPRA 25). The human remains were determined to be one adult female and one adult male. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Based on the geographic location of all the sites in this notice, TAMU staff found it reasonable to trace a shared identity between the human remains in this notice and the following historic groups: Ervipiame, Mayeye, Yojuane, Comanche, Kickapoo, Tonkawa, Tunica and Biloxi, Wichita, Caddo, Waco, Anadarko, and Kiowa. Archeological and linguistic evidence, historical records, and/or traditional beliefs indicate that there is a relationship of shared group identity between these historic groups and the present-day Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by Texas A&M University

Officials of Texas A&M University have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of 24 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a written request with information in support of the request to Dr. Suzanne L. Eckert, Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone [phone], by May 19, 2014. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

Texas A&M University is responsible for notifying the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma that this notice has been published.

Dated: March 4, 2014.

Sherry Hutt,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.