95-9490. Notice of Inventory Completion of Native American Human Remains From the Site of Mo'omomi on Molokai, HI in the Possession of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, CA

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19407-19408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9490]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Inventory Completion of Native American Human Remains 
From the Site of Mo'omomi on Molokai, HI in the Possession of the Los 
Angeles County Museum of Natural History, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d), of 
the completion of the inventory of human remains from the site of 
Mo'omomi on Molokai, HI that are presently in the possession of the Los 
Angeles County Museum of Natural History.
    A detailed inventory and assessment of these human remains has been 
made by the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History's curatorial 
staff in consultation with representatives of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna `O 
Hawai`i Nei, a Native Hawaiian organization as defined in 25 U.S.C. 
3001(11).
    The human remains consist of 36 whole and three fragmentary human 
teeth. The human remains were donated to the Los Angeles County Museum 
of Natural History in 1927 by Dr. William A. Bryan, then Director of 
the Los Angeles County Museum. The remains were catalogued as 
A.1463.27-36.
    The catalog description states the remains are a ``box of human 
teeth from the battle field of Momumi.'' A representative of Hui Malama 
I Na Kupuna `O Hawai`i Nei has identified ``Momumi'' as the site of 
Mo'omomi on Molokai and has stated that the sand dunes of Mo'omomi have 
long been used as burial grounds of ancestral Native Hawaiians. 
Reference to the ``battlefield of Momumi'' is thought to refer to this 
burial area. The representative of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna `O Hawai`i 
Nei has also provided documentation that shows that Bryan and others 
collected human remains from Mo'omomi.
    Inventory of the human remains and review of the accompanying 
documentation indicate that no known individuals were identifiable. 
Based on the above information, officials of the Los Angeles County 
Museum of Natural History 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 these human remains and present-day Native 
Hawaiian organizations.
    This notice has been sent to officials of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna `O 
Hawai`i Nei, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Molokai Island 
Burial Council. Representatives of any other Native Hawaiian 
organization which believes itself to be culturally affiliated with 
these human remains should contact Dr. Margaret Ann Hardin, Curator and 
Section Head, Anthropology, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural 
History, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, telephone: (213) 
744-3382, before May 18, 1995. Repatriation of these human remains to 
[[Page 19408]] Hui Malama I Na Kupuna `O Hawai`i Nei may begin after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.

    Dated: April 6, 1995.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Chief, Archeological Assistance 
Division.
[FR Doc. 95-9490 Filed 4-17-95; 8:45 am]
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