Notice2021-24047
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 4, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the American Museum of Natural History. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 211 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 211 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60908-60909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24047]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032918; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: American Museum of
Natural History, New York, NY
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), in consultation
with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations,
has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the
definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or
representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items
should submit a written request to the American Museum of Natural
History. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control
of the cultural items 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
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with
information in support of the claim to the American Museum of Natural
History at the address in this notice by December 6, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nell Murphy, American Museum of
Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024,
telephone (212) 769-5837, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#214f4c545351495861404c4f490f4e5346"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cba5a6beb9bba3b28baaa6a5a3e5a4b9ac">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the
control of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, that
meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C.
3001.
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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible
for the determinations in this notice.
History and Description of the Cultural Items
In 1896, one cultural item was removed from Andrew K. Rowan Farm,
Grave 1, Trench #6, Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by Earnest Volk as part
of an AMNH funded expedition. The cultural item was accessioned into
the Museum's collection that same year. The one unassociated funerary
object is a broken stone implement. Museum records indicate that the
cultural item was removed from a grave, and artifact analysis dates the
implement to the Middle Woodland Period (A.D. 200-900).
In 1897, two cultural items were removed from Andrew K. Rowan Farm,
Trench #8, Grave 2, one-mile south of Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by
Earnest Volk as part of an AMNH expedition. The two cultural items were
accessioned into the Museum's collection that same year. The two
unassociated funerary objects are one pottery fragment and one stone
implement. Museum records indicate that the two items were removed from
a grave, and artifact analysis dates them to the Middle Woodland Period
(A.D. 200-900).
In 1898, one cultural item was removed from A. K. Rowan Farm, in
the
[[Page 60909]]
Delaware Valley south of Trenton, Mercer County, NJ, by Earnest Volk as
part of an AMNH expedition. The cultural item was accessioned into the
Museum's collection that same year. The one unassociated funerary
object is a ceramic piece. Museum records indicate that the ceramic
piece was removed from a grave, and artifact analysis dates the
implement in the Middle Woodland Period (A.D. 200-900).
The A.K. Rowan Farm lies within the Abbott Farm Historic District,
a National Historic Landmark located in Lenape territory. Archeological
and linguistic data indicate a cultural continuity there that extends
back to the Middle Woodland Period.
In 1898, three cultural items were removed from A.K. Rowan's Farm
(terrace), near old homestead field, in the Delaware Valley, Mercer
County, NJ, by Earnest Volk as part of an AMNH expedition. The cultural
items were accessioned into the Museum's collection that same year. The
three unassociated funerary objects are three wooden posts. A
representative of the Delaware Tribe identified the three wooden posts
as traditional Delaware grave markers from an area known to have Late
Woodland/Historic Period burials. Radiocarbon dating of one of the
posts (done at the request of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware
Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community,
Wisconsin) indicates that all three posts likely date to the 18th
century, a time during which the Delaware occupied the Abbott Farm
area.
Determinations Made by the American Museum of Natural History
Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined
that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the seven cultural items
described 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 and are believed, by a preponderance of the
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native
American individual.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the
unassociated funerary objects and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma;
Delaware Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; and the Stockbridge-Munsee
Community, Wisconsin (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 claim
these cultural items should submit a written request with information
in support of the claim to Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural
History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212)
769-5837, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6806051d1a180011280905060046071a0f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46282b3334362e3f06272b282e68293421">[email protected]</span></a>, by December 6, 2021. After that date,
if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of
the unassociated funerary objects to The Tribes may proceed.
The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying
The Tribes that this notice has been published.
Dated: October 23, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-24047 Filed 11-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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