Notice2022-22038
Notice of Inventory Completion: William and Mary, Department of Anthropology, Williamsburg, VA
Primary source
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Published
October 11, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The William and Mary, Department of Anthropology has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, 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 associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to William and Mary's Anthropology Department. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects 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 87 Issue 195 (Tuesday, October 11, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61357-61361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22038]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034594; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: William and Mary, Department of
Anthropology, Williamsburg, VA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The William and Mary, Department of Anthropology has completed
an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in
consultation with the appropriate
[[Page 61358]]
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations and has determined that
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and
associated funerary objects 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
and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to
William and Mary's Anthropology Department. If no additional requestors
come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated
funerary objects 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 and associated
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in
support of the request to William and Mary's Anthropology Department at
the address in this notice by November 10, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Gallivan, Anthropology
Department, William and Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-
8795, telephone (757) 221-3622, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b060f0c0a07072b1c06450e0f1e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6dbd2d1d7dadaf6c1db98d3d2c3">[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 and
associated funerary objects under the control of the William and Mary,
Department of Anthropology, Williamsburg, VA. The human remains and
associated funerary objects were removed from Charles City, New Kent,
Chesterfield, Prince George, and York Counties, VA, and Hampton, VA.
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 and associated funerary objects. The National
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Consultation
A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by William and
Mary's Anthropology Department professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe; Monacan Indian
Nation; Nansemond Indian Nation (previously listed as Nansemond Indian
Tribe); Pamunkey Indian Tribe; Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.; Upper
Mattaponi Tribe; and the Mattaponi Indian Tribe, a non-federally
recognized Indian group (hereafter referred to as ``The Consulted
Tribes and Group'').
History and Description of the Remains
The Anthropology Department's NAGPRA collection is comprised of
human remains and associated funerary objects that were removed during
excavations conducted at various sites in Virginia from 1967 through
1978. Most of the excavations were carried out as part of the
Chickahominy River Survey under the direction of Professors Norm Barka
and Ben McCary. The project was designed to identify and investigate
the villages of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe that were located along
the Chickahominy River in present day Charles City and New Kent
Counties.
Chickahominy River Survey--Edge Hill Site (44CC0029)
The removal of the human remains from the Edge Hill Site took place
in 1968, during excavations completed as part of the Chickahominy River
Survey. Based on three radiocarbon dates the site's occupation was
centered on the 13th and 14th centuries A.D. In total, five ossuaries
containing 78 individuals and 250 associated funerary objects were
uncovered. In addition to the five ossuaries, a dog burial was located
near Ossuary 5. Several dog and pig burials were excavated from the
sites included in the Chickahominy River Survey. They appear to
represent ceremonial events related to the interment of the individuals
buried in the ossuaries.
Ossuary 1
In 1968, human remains representing at minimum, 16 individuals were
removed from an ossuary burial context at the Edge Hill Site located
along the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA (Ossuary 1).
The human remains belong to two children with ages ranging between 2
and 6 to 8 years; one young adult of undetermined sex; six adult
females whose ages range between 18 to 45 years; two adult males whose
ages range between 18 and 60 years old; two individuals of undetermined
sex; and three individuals of undetermined age and sex. The 26
associated funerary objects include 23 ceramic sherds, one unidentified
quartzite projectile point, and two faunal fragments representing white
tailed deer. None of these objects appeared to be directly associated
with any one individual buried in the ossuary. Their identification as
associated funerary objects was determined through consultation with
The Consulted Tribes and Group.
Ossuary 2
In 1968, human remains representing at minimum, 10 individuals were
removed from an ossuary burial context at the Edge Hill Site located
along the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA (Ossuary 2).
The human remains belong to one infant; one child aged 4-6 years; two
adult females whose ages range between 18 and 45 years; one adult male
older than 35 years; three adults of undetermined sex; and two
individuals of undetermined age and sex. The 36 associated funerary
objects include 17 ceramic sherds, 17 lithics (flakes, shatter, and
projectile point), and two fragments from faunal remains. None of these
objects appeared to be directly associated with any one individual
buried in the ossuary. Their identification as associated funerary
objects was determined through consultation with The Consulted Tribes
and Group.
Ossuary 3
In 1968, human remains representing at minimum, eight individuals
were removed from an ossuary burial context at the Edge Hill Site
located along the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA
(Ossuary 3). The human remains belong to three children whose ages
range between 2 and 12 years; one young adult female between 17 and 25
years old; one adult female aged older than 45 years; one adult male of
undetermined age; and two individuals of undetermined sex and age. The
19 associated funerary objects include 12 ceramic sherds, five lithics
(flakes and shatter), and two fragments from faunal remains. None of
these objects appeared to be directly associated with any one
individual buried in the ossuary. Their identification as associated
funerary objects was determined through consultation with The Consulted
Tribes and Group.
Ossuary 4
In 1968, human remains representing at minimum, 18 individuals were
removed from an ossuary burial context at the Edge Hill Site located
along the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA (Ossuary 4).
The human remains belong to one infant; four children whose ages range
between 3 and 10 years; one adolescent male 12-15 years old; one young
adult male 16-
[[Page 61359]]
20 years old; three adult males aged older than 35 years; one young
adult female 15-19 years old; three adult females 21-35 years old; two
adult females aged older than 35 years; one adult female; and one
individual of undetermined sex and age. The 28 associated funerary
objects include eight ceramic sherds, 18 lithics (flakes, shatter,
biface, projectile point, fire cracked rock), and two fragments from
faunal remains. None of these objects appeared to be directly
associated with any one individual buried in the ossuary. Their
identification as associated funerary objects was determined through
consultation with The Consulted Tribes and Group.
Ossuary 5
In 1968, human remains representing at minimum, 26 individuals were
removed from an ossuary burial context at the Edge Hill Site located
along the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA (Ossuary 5).
The human remains belong to four infants; six children whose ages range
between 2 and 12 years; seven adult females whose ages range between 17
and 54 years; six adult males whose ages range 22 and 60 years; and
three individuals of undetermined sex and age. The 141 associated
funerary objects include 38 ceramic sherds, 10 lithics (flakes,
shatter, and projectile point), five columella shell beads, and 88
fragments from faunal remains of various species including raccoon,
white tail deer, turtle, fish, and eastern gray squirrel. Also, near
Ossuary 5 was the burial of one dog that contained one plain shell-
tempered ceramic sherd. Except for the five columella shell beads, none
of these objects appeared to be directly associated with any one
individual buried in the ossuary. Their identification as associated
funerary objects was determined through consultation with The Consulted
Tribes and Group.
Wilcox Neck Site (44CC0030)
Excavations at the Wilcox Neck site began in November of 1967,
under the direction of archeologist Leverette Gregory of the Virginia
Foundation for Archaeological Research (predecessor to the Virginia
Department of Historic Resources). Following Gregory's excavations,
investigations at the site continued during the summer of 1968, under
the Chickahominy River Survey. The excavations at Wilcox Neck were
focused on two ossuary features. Based on both the radiocarbon dating
of charcoal recovered from Ossuary 1 and the ceramic seriation dates of
the pottery excavated from both ossuaries, this site dates to
approximately A.D. 988 through 1100. Together, both ossuaries contained
45 individuals and 92 associated funerary objects.
Ossuary 1
In 1968, human remains representing at minimum, 29 individuals were
removed from an ossuary burial context at the Wilcox Neck Site located
along the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA (Ossuary 1).
The human remains belong to two infants; three children whose ages
range 3 and 11 years; one adolescent 13-18 years old; one subadult of
undetermined sex; one young adult female 17-25 years old; six adult
females whose ages range between 21 and 50 years; four possible adult
females; one young adult male 17 to 25 years old; one adult male; four
adult males whose ages range between 25 and 50 years; one individual
aged older than 55 years and of undetermined sex; and four individuals
of undetermined sex and age. The 56 associated funerary objects include
27 ceramic sherds and 29 lithics (flakes, fire cracked rock, and Yadkin
projectile point). None of these objects appeared to be directly
associated with any one individual buried in the ossuary. Their
identification as associated funerary objects was determined through
consultation with The Consulted Tribes and Group.
Ossuary 2
In 1968, human remains representing at minimum, 16 individuals were
removed from an ossuary burial context at the Wilcox Neck Site located
along the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA (Ossuary 2).
The human remains belong to three children whose ages range between 3
and 10 years; five adult females whose ages range between 18 and 60
years; one adult female; five adult males whose ages range between 22
and 60 years; one adult male; and one individual 30-60 years old and of
undetermined sex. The 36 associated funerary objects include 16 ceramic
sherds and 20 lithics (flakes and fire cracked rock). None of these
objects appeared to be directly associated with any one individual
buried in the ossuary. Their identification as associated funerary
objects was determined through consultation with The Consulted Tribes
and Group.
Cypress Banks Site (44CC409)
In 1968, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals
were removed from the Cypress Banks site (44CC409), along the
Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA.
Excavations revealed evidence of a series of dispersed Native
settlements spanning the end of the Middle Woodland and the beginning
of the Late Woodland periods and dating from approximately A.D. 900 to
1200. Two burials were uncovered during the excavations. Burial 1
contained the primary interment of an adult female 35-45 years old.
Burial 2 contained the fragmentary remains of an adult male. No known
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are
present.
Buck Farm Site (44CC0037)
In 1969, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from a burial at the Buck Farm site (44CC0037), a
relatively small, palisaded settlement surrounded by two concentric
ditch features constructed and used between A.D. 1200 and 1600, which
is located along the Chickahominy River in Charles City County, VA. The
human remains belong to an adult male 30-40 years old. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects were present
in the burial itself, but 11 ceremonial burials of various animals--
four pigs, one bird, and six possible dogs--were also excavated. The
faunal remains from only five of these ceremonial burials remain in the
Department's collection. Burials 1, 2, 3, and 4 each contained pig
remains, and Burial 6 contained dog remains.
Clark's Old Neck Site (44CC0043)
In 1969, human remains representing, at minimum, four individuals
were removed from Clark's Old Neck site, along the Chickahominy River
in Charles City County, VA. The excavations uncovered evidence of
Native occupations of the site from the 11th through early 13th
centuries A.D. Four adult burials were uncovered at the site as well as
five ceremonial dog burials. Burial 1 contained the primary interment
of an adult female 20-30 years old. Burial 2 contained the primary
interment of an adult male 48-60 years old. Burial 3 contained the
secondary internment of an adult female 23-25 years old. Burial 3
appears to be a bundle burial of a female whose bones evidence exposure
to smoke and ochre. Burial 4 was uncovered in a disturbed context and
contained the remains of an adult female. No known individuals were
identified. No associated funerary objects were present in the human
burials themselves, but five ceremonial dog burials were uncovered
together with 3,100 associated objects that include ceramic sherds,
various types of lithics, and pipe fragments.
[[Page 61360]]
Maycock Site (44PG0040)
At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, five
individuals were removed from the Maycock site (44PG0040), on the south
bank of the James River in present-day Prince George County, VA. This
village site was occupied by the Weanoc (Weyanoke) community for
centuries prior to the arrival of the English in 1607. The Weyanoke
were displaced decades later, in the 17th century, due to relentless
English encroachment along the James River. Flowerdew Hundred, a
colonial plantation, was established in 1618, in proximity to the
Weyanoke village. Little information exists regarding the excavation
and removal of the human remains from the Maycock Site. Altogether, the
human remains of nine individuals were excavated from the site, but
only the human remains of five remain in the Anthropology Department's
collection. (The human remains of at least three individuals were
transferred to the University of Virginia, which holds the Flowerdew
Hundred Collection. Those human remains were determined not to be
Native American, but instead relate to the history of the plantation.)
Burial 2 contained the human remains of a child 6-10 years old. Burial
3 contained only cranial, hand, and rib fragments of the individual.
Burial 8 contained the human remains of a young child under the age of
5. Burial 10 contained the human remains of a young adult male 17-25
years old. Burial A contained the human remains of an individual 12-22
years old and of undetermined sex. No known individuals were
identified. The one associated funerary object is a ceramic sherd.
Based on archeological, ethnohistorical, and documentary evidence,
the Maycock site has been historically affiliated with the Weyanoke
Indians. The Weyanoke were a part of the Powhatan Chiefdom that spanned
the Tidewater region of Virginia. When they were displaced from the
village and the surrounding area in the early 17th century, they were
subsumed within other Powhatan-allied tribal communities. Prince George
County is the historically and ancestrally documented territory of the
Indian Tribes that comprised, and were allied with, the Powhatan
Chiefdom. The present-day descendants of these earlier groups include
the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern
Division, Nansemond Indian Nation, Pamunkey Indian Tribe, Rappahannock
Indian Tribe, Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe, and Mattaponi Indian Tribe.
Grandview Beach, Hampton, Virginia
On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from the Grandview Beach fishing pier at the
end of Beach Road, in the City of Hampton, VA. The human remains were
brought to the Department of Anthropology by the Hampton City Police
Department who, at the time, reported that, according to oral
tradition, a ``burial ground'' was located in the vicinity of the pier.
The human remains--cranial fragments--belong to an individual of
undetermined sex and age. No known individual was identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
Based on archeological, ethnohistorical, historical, and oral
traditional information, Grandview Beach in Hampton is the territory of
the Nansemond Indian Nation. The Nansemond were allied and affiliated
with the Powhatan Chiefdom.
Comstock (44CF0020)
In 1966 and 1967, human remains representing, at minimum, three
individuals were removed from the Comstock site (44CF0020), in Colonial
Heights, Chesterfield County, VA, during excavations led by Leverette
Gregory. Also known as Conjurer's Field, this site is located on the
west bank of the Appomattox River. The excavations revealed evidence of
indigenous occupation going back to the Middle and Late Woodland
periods. William and Mary acquired the collection from the Comstock
site in 1968. Burial 1 contained the nearly complete skeleton of an
adult female 40-45 years old. Burial 2 contained the nearly complete
skeleton of an adult female 25-30 years old. Burial 3 contained the
partial skeleton of a young adult 15-18 years old and of undetermined
sex. No known individual was identified. The five associated funerary
objects are one columella bead, one lot of ceramics, one lot of
debitage, one lot of fire cracked rock, and one lot of faunal remains.
Based on archeological, ethnohistorical, and documentary evidence,
the Comstock Site is located within a geographic area considered to be
the ancestral territory of the Appomattox Indians. This community was
comprised of Algonquian speakers and was allied to the Powhatan
Chiefdom in power in the Tidewater region during the 16th and 17th
centuries. The artifacts excavated from the site are consistent with
the material culture of Algonquian speaking communities that resided in
the Tidewater region. However, Comstock is located near the fall line,
which is near the cities of Petersburg and Colonial Heights. The fall
line is a naturally occurring boundary that has historically been
treated as a border separating the territory of the Indian Tribes that
comprised the Monacan to the west, and the allied Tribes of the
Powhatan Chiefdom to the east.
Yorktown, York County Virginia
In the 1970s, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from the Nelson House site, Yorktown, VA, by
Dr. Norman Barka, a William and Mary Anthropology Department professor.
There is little documentation on the collection history of these human
remains. The human remains include part of an amputated (saw cut) lower
left arm and hand. Due to the fragmented state of the burial, the age
and sex of this individual are undetermined. No known individual was
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
In 1973, human remains representing, at minimum, seven individuals
were removed from Hangman's Point (Gallows Point) in Yorktown, VA.
Hangman's Point is located atop a prominent bluff that comes to a point
overlooking Water Street and the York River. Burial 1 contained the
remains of a young adult 16-23 years old and of undetermined sex.
Burials 2, 3, and 6 each contained the remains of an adult of
undetermined sex. Burial 4 contained the remains of a young adult 17-25
years and of undetermined sex. Burial 5 contained the remains of a
young adult 14-21 years old and of undetermined sex. Burial 7 contained
the remains of an adult male and represents the most intact skeleton
among the seven burials. No known individuals were identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
In 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from Hangman's Point (Gallows Point) in Yorktown, VA.
Hangman's Point is located atop a prominent bluff that comes to a point
overlooking Water Street and the York River. The burial contained the
remains of an individual of undetermined sex and age. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
In the 1970s, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from site 12Y in Yorktown, VA. The nearly
complete skeleton belongs to an adult male 35-50 years old. No known
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
[[Page 61361]]
In 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, six individuals
were removed from site 44YO0196, Yorktown Beach, in Yorktown, VA. The
site is located below the Victory Monument, a well-known place marker
in the town. Burial 1 contained the human remains of a child 7-9 years
old and of undetermined sex. Burial 2 contained the human remains of an
adolescent 10-16 years old and of undetermined sex. Burial 3 contained
the human remains of an adult female 20-35 years old. Burial 4
contained the human remains of a young adult male 17-25 years old.
Burials 5 and 6 each contained the human remains of an adult individual
of undetermined sex. No known individuals were identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
In 1975, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from site 44YO0244, Yorktown Beach, in Yorktown, VA. The
human remains--a skull--belong to an adult 18-44 years old and of
undetermined sex. No known individual was identified. No associated
funerary objects are present.
Based on ethnohistorical, historical, ethnographic, archeological,
and oral traditional information collected over the last 400 years,
York County, VA is the historically and ancestrally documented
territory of the Indian Tribes that comprised the Powhatan Chiefdom.
The area is located near the geographic and political center of the
Powhatan Chiefdom that was formed over several decades during the
latter half of the 16th century and the first decade of the 17th
century. The Pamunkey, Upper Mattaponi, and Mattaponi Tribes consider
the York County area to encompass their ancestral lands.
Determinations Made by the William and Mary, Department of Anthropology
Officials of the William and Mary, Department of Anthropology have
determined that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described
in this notice represent the physical remains of 156 individuals of
Native American ancestry.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 348 associated
funerary objects 11 ceremonial animal burials, and 3,101 objects
associated with the animal burials described in this notice 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.
<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 associated funerary objects and the
Chickahominy Indian Tribe; Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division;
Nansemond Indian Nation (previously listed as Nansemond Indian Tribe);
Pamunkey Indian Tribe; Rappahannock Tribe, Inc.; and the Upper
Mattaponi Tribe (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 and associated
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in
support of the request to Martin Gallivan, Anthropology Department,
William and Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, telephone
(757) 221-3622, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f424b484e43436f5842014a4b5a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="99f4fdfef8f5f5d9eef4b7fcfdec">[email protected]</span></a>, by November 10, 2022. After that
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The
Tribes may proceed. If joined to a request from one or more of The
Tribes, the Mattaponi Indian Tribe, a non-federally recognized Indian
group may receive transfer of control of the human remains and
associated funerary objects.
The William and Mary, Department of Anthropology is responsible for
notifying The Consulted Tribes and Group that this notice has been
published.
Dated: September 27, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-22038 Filed 10-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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