2022-18737. Notice of Inventory Completion: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Michigan State 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 Michigan State 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 Michigan State University at the address in this notice by September 29, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Judith Stoddart, Associate Provost, University Arts and Collections, Michigan State University, 287 Delta Court, East Lansing, MI 48824, 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 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. The human remains were removed from Kite Pueblo, Torrance County, NM.

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 Michigan State University professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas. In addition, the following Indian Tribes were invited to consult but did not participate: Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico ( previously listed as Pueblo of San Juan); Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, 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; Santo Domingo Pueblo ( previously listed as Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico, and as Pueblo of Santo Domingo); and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. Hereafter, all the Indian Tribes listed in this section are referred to as “The Tribes.”

History and Description of the Remains

In 1994, human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals were removed from Kite Pueblo (LA-199) in Torrance County, NM. Excavations were conducted by Michigan State University (MSU) under the direction of Dr. Alison Rautman. Kite Pueblo is a 50-room masonry-and-adobe pueblo organized around a central plaza that was occupied from A.D. 1250 to 1350. Excavations conducted in the northwest corner of the plaza located a fetal burial, likely around 9.5 lunar months of age. No funerary objects were found in association with the burial. In addition to the burial, isolated human remains belonging to at least two individuals—an adult and juvenile—were recovered from midden and room fill across the site.

The landowner signed a letter requesting the human remains not be reinterred on their property and donating the collections from the site to MSU; however, they were not accessioned into the MSU Museum system. Kite Pueblo was occupied by Ancestral Puebloan people from approximately A.D. 1250 to 1350.

All the individuals listed in this notice are reasonably believed to be Ancestral Puebloan based on the provenience and documentation associated with the human remains. A relationship of shared group identity can be traced between Ancestral Puebloan people and modern Puebloan groups, based on oral tradition, historical evidence, folkloric, archeological, geographical, linguistic, kinship, and scientific studies.

Determinations Made by Michigan State University

Officials of Michigan State University have determined that:

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of three 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 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 Judith Stoddart, Associate Provost, University Arts and Collections, Michigan State University, 287 Delta Court, East Lansing, MI 48824, telephone [phone], email [e-mail], by September 29, 2022. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to The Tribes may proceed.

Michigan State University is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this notice has been published.

Dated: August 24, 2022.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.