2020-18230. Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Anthropology, Amherst, MA

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Anthropology, 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 the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 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 the University of Massachusetts Amherst at the address in this notice by September 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Julie Woods, Repatriation Coordinator, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 215 Machmer Hall, 240 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

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 the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA. The human remains were removed from the Grand Gulch area of San Juan County, UT.

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 the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Anthropology, professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Nevada and Utah; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico (previously listed as Pueblo of Santo Domingo); Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation (previously listed as Northwestern Band of Shoshoni Nation and the Northwestern Band of Shoshoni Nation of Utah (Washakie)); Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (previously listed as Pueblo of San Juan); Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (Cedar Band of Paiutes, Kanosh Band of Paiutes, Koosharem Band of Paiutes, Indian Peaks Band of Paiutes, and Shivwits Band of Paiutes (previously listed as Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (Cedar City Band of Paiutes, Kanosh Band of Paiutes, Koosharem Band of Paiutes, Indian Peaks Band of Paiutes, and Shivwits Band of Paiutes)); Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe of Arizona; Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians of Utah; Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado; Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation, Utah; Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (previously listed as Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah); Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (previously listed as Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas); and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. An invitation to consult was extended to the Colorado River Indian Tribes of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, Arizona and California (hereafter referred to as “The Consulted and Invited Tribes”).

History and Description of the Remains

In the 1890s, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were removed from the Grand Gulch area of San Juan County, UT. The human remains were excavated during the Hyde Exploring Expedition, which was sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City. In 1902, Professor F. W. Putnam, Curator of Anthropology (then of AMNH) and supervisor of the Expedition, along with his former associate, Dr. Aleš Hrdlička (then of AMNH and later of the United States National Museum [Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building]), gave the human remains to Dr. Harris Hawthorne Wilder, Professor of Zoology at Smith College (1892-1928). On January 16, 1902, AMNH sent the human remains to Smith College to become part of the Wilder Collection. During the late 1970s, Smith College disbanded the Wilder Collection and transferred some of the human remains to the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), including the individuals from Grand Gulch. UMass accessioned some of these human remains in 1986-1987; others were never accessioned.

The human remains belong to an adult male and an adult female. The male's approximate age was 45 and the female's approximate age was 60. Dr. Wilder created a plastilina (also known as plasticine) bust (146) and a cast made from the bust. Dr. Wilder utilized the cranium and post cranial elements of the female to make the bust. The cranium, neck, and shoulders were never cataloged, and were reported to have been encased in the bust. No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Determinations Made by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Anthropology

Officials of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Anthropology, have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry based on provenance, provenience, and preservation.
• 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 Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico (previously listed as Pueblo of Santo Domingo); Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (previously listed as Pueblo of San Juan); Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (previously listed as Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas); and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico (hereafter referred to as “The Tribes”).

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 Julie Woods, Repatriation Coordinator, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 215 Machmer Hall, 240 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003, telephone [phone], email [e-mail], by September 21, 2020. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Anthropology, is responsible for notifying The Consulted and Invited Tribes that this notice has been published.

Dated: July 21, 2020.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.