Notice2021-27356
Notice of Inventory Completion: Worcester Natural History Society (DBA EcoTarium), Worcester, MA
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
December 17, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The Worcester Natural History Society (DBA EcoTarium) 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 EcoTarium. 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 240 (Friday, December 17, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 240 (Friday, December 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71657-71658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27356]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033138; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Worcester Natural History Society
(DBA EcoTarium), Worcester, MA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Worcester Natural History Society (DBA EcoTarium) 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 EcoTarium. 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
EcoTarium at the address in this notice by January 18, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Christiansen, EcoTarium, 222
Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604, telephone (508) 929-2734, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bcf1ffd4ced5cfc8d5ddd2cfd9d2fcf9dfd3e8ddced5c9d192d3cedb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cb8688a3b9a2b8bfa2aaa5b8aea58b8ea8a49faab9a2bea6e5a4b9ac">[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. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains under
the control of the Worcester Natural History Society, Worcester, MA.
The human remains were removed from land belonging to the Daniels
School of Forestry in Rutland, Worcester County, MA.
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 EcoTarium
professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Mashpee
Wampanoag Tribe [previously listed as Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal
Council, Inc.]; Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah); and the Nipmuc
Nation, Hassanamisco Band, a non-federally recognized Indian group.
Hereafter, all the Indian Tribes and the non-federally recognized
Indian group listed in this section are referred to as ``The Consulted
Tribes and Group.''
History and Description of the Remains
In 1952, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from land belonging to the Daniels School of Forestry in
the town of Rutland, Worcester County, MA. The human remains have been
in the possession of the Worcester Natural History Society since at
least the late 1990s. No known individual was identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
Forensic analysis of the human remains reached the following
conclusion: ``The remains consist of a nearly complete skull of a
probably male, probable adult individual of ancestry most consistent
with Native American. No meaningful estimate of stature was possible.
No antemortem or perimortem trauma or antemortem pathological changes
are visible. The PMI [postmortem interval, time of death] was
determined by 14C analysis to be circa AD 290.'' In other words, these
human remains belong to the Woodland period of Native habitation of the
northeast.
The Daniels site is located within the historic and prehistoric
range of the Nipmuc Nation. Historic associations, including kinship
connections, exist between the Nipmuc and the Wampanoag.
Multiple lines of evidence, guided by consultation, including
geographical, oral traditional, linguistic, and historical information,
demonstrate the existence of a shared group identity between The
Consulted Tribes and Group and the earlier group to which the human
remains in this notice are connected.
Determinations Made by the Worcester Natural History Society
Officials of the Worcester Natural History Society have determined
that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of
Native American ancestry.
<bullet> 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 Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe [previously
listed as Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council, Inc.] and the
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) (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
[[Page 71658]]
a written request with information in support of the request to Martin
Christiansen, EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604,
telephone (508) 929-2734, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#034e406b716a70776a626d70666d4346606c5762716a766e2d6c7164"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="602d23081209131409010e13050e2025030f34011209150d4e0f1207">[email protected]</span></a>, by January
18, 2022. After that date, if no additional requestors have come
forward, transfer of control of the human remains to The Tribes may
proceed. If joined to a request from one or more of The Tribes, the
Nipmuc Nation, Hassanamisco Band, a non-federally recognized Indian
group may also be included in the transfer of control.
The Worcester Natural History Society is responsible for notifying
The Consulted Tribes and Group that this notice has been published.
Dated: December 10, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-27356 Filed 12-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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