[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36918-36919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17365]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains
and Associated Funerary Objects from Lincoln County, MT in the
Possession of the Human Osteology Repository, Department of
Anthropology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
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), 43 CFR 10.9,
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated
funerary objects from Lincoln County, MT in the possession of the Human
Osteology Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of
Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Human
Osteology Repository professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the
Flathead Reservation.
During the mid-1970s, human remains representing a minimum of six
individuals were removed from private lands adjacent to the U.S.-
Canadian border on the eastern banks of the Kootenai River, Lincoln
County, MT by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald C. Morgan and Donald Morgan. During
the mid-to-late 1970s, these human remains were donated by an unknown
anthropology student to the Anthropology Department of the University
of Wyoming. In 1994 and 1995, these six individuals were confirmed to
be in the collections of the Human Osteology Repository. No known
individuals were identified. The four associated funerary objects
include a small historic glass button with four holes, an historic
white glazed ceramic sherd, a soil sample, and a fragment of a white
paste ceramic pipe stem.
Based on skeletal morphology and reported burial associations,
these individuals have been identified as Native American. Based on the
types of associated funerary objects, these burials are estimated to
date to the mid to late-19th century. Cultural affiliation is assessed
based on the location of the original interments within historically-
defined Kootenai territory. The area of original interment is also
located with in the judicially established Indian Lands Claims area of
the Kootenai.
Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Human
Osteology Repository, Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming
have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(1), the human remains
listed above represent the physical remains of six individuals of
Native American ancestry. Officials of the Human Osteology Repository,
Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming have also determined
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the four 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 Human Osteology Repository,
Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming have determined that,
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group
identity which can be reasonably traced between these Native American
human remains and associated funerary objects and the
[[Page 36919]]
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Confederated Salish &
Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation. Representatives of any
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated
with these human remains and associated funerary objects should contact
Rick L. Weathermon, NAGPRA Contact, University of Wyoming Department of
Anthropology Human Osteology Repository, University of Wyoming, P.O.
Box 3431, Laramie, WY 82071-3431; telephone: (307) 766-5136, before
August 9, 1999. Repatriation of the human remains and associated
funerary objects to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the
Flathead Reservation may begin after that date if no additional
claimants come forward.
Dated: June 29, 1999.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-17365 Filed 7-7-99: 8:45 am]
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