[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17582]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 20, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
from Maine in the Possession of the Robert Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, ME
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 an inventory of human remains from four sites in
Hancock County, ME, in the possession of the Robert Abbe Museum, Bar
Harbor, ME.
A detailed inventory and assessment of these human remains has been
made by the curatorial staff of the Robert Abbe Museum and contracted
specialists in physical anthropology, in consultation with
representatives of the Penobscot Nation, Aroostook Bank of Micmac,
Houlton Band of Maliseet, and the Passamaquoddy Nation, collectively
identified hereafter as the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine.
The partial remains of six individuals were acquired by the Robert
Abbe Museum between 1931 and 1945 in archeological excavations of three
prehistoric shell middens in Hancock County, ME. Partial remains from
three individuals were recovered between 1931 and 1936 from ME Site
44.12A. The partial remains of one individual were recovered in 1939
from ME Site 44.25. Partial remains of two individuals were recovered
between 1941 and 1945 from ME Site 44.6. Radiocarbon dates from ME Site
44.6 yielded dates of 955 BP +/- 75 years and 1,120 BP +/- 80 years.
The radiocarbon dates and other archeological evidence indicate that
all six individuals lived during the Late Prehistoric Period (1000 AD--
1500 AD).
A human cranium and maxilla were acquired via donation from H.
Lawrence Angel in 1946. Mr. Angel indicated that he had collected the
human remains from ME Site 31.31, another prehistoric shell midden in
Hancock County, ME. These remains are also judged to be associated with
the Late Prehistoric Period occupation of ME Site 31.31.
Inventory of the human remains and review of the accompanying
documentation indicates that no funerary objects associated with the
above mentioned human remains are part of the collections of the Robert
Abbe Museum. No known individuals were identifiable.
The Archaeological Advisory Committee of the Maine Historic
Preservation Program has found it reasonable to trace a shared group
identity from the Late Prehistoric Period inhabitants of Maine as an
undivided whole to the four modern Indian tribes known collectively as
the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine on the basis of geographic proximity;
survivals of stone, ceramic and perishable material culture skills; and
probable linguistic continuity across the Late Prehistoric/Contact
Period boundary.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Robert
Abbe Museum 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 the Wabanaki Tribes of Maine.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Wabanaki Tribes of
Maine. Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself
to be culturally affiliated with these human remains should contact
Rebecca Cole-Will, Curator, The Robert Abbe Museum, P.O. Box 286, Bar
Harbor, ME 04609, telephone: (207) 288-3519 before August 19, 1994.
Dated: July 14, 1994
Francis P. McManamon, Ph.D.
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 94-17582 Filed 7-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
