Notice2023-08813
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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
April 26, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The University of Michigan 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 a 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 Michigan. 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 88 Issue 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25421-25422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08813]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035716; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, MI
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The University of Michigan 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 a 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 Michigan.
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 Michigan at the address in this notice by May 26, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Project
Manager, University of Michigan, Office of Research, 3003 South State
St., First Floor, Wolverine Tower, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1274, telephone
(734) 615-8936, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5c3e2f393f2932383d1c2931353f3472393829"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f496879197819a9095b481999d979cda919081">[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 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. The human
remains were removed from the Moundville site in Hale and Tuscaloosa
Counties, AL.
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 Michigan professional staff in consultation with
representatives of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Alabama-
Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Jena Band of
Choctaw Indians; Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Mississippi Band of
Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Seminole Tribe of
Florida; The Chickasaw Nation; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The
Muscogee (Creek) Nation; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and the
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').
History and Description of the Human Remains
On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from the Moundville site (1TU500) in Hale and
Tuscaloosa Counties, AL. The Moundville site is located near the Black
Warrior River. The site consists of multiple mounds surrounding a
central plaza, and includes both burial and habitation areas. It is
owned and managed by the University of Alabama. First excavated in
1840, the site has been excavated numerous times by multiple
individuals. While publications report that thousands of burials were
disinterred and objects removed during these excavations, the
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology (UMMAA)
only possesses the ancestral human remains of a single individual. Not
much is known regarding these ancestral human remains at the UMMAA.
They were found in the osteological teaching collections during NAGPRA
compliance work conducted in the early-1990s, at which time they were
accessioned. To date, no records have been found describing when the
ancestral human remains were disinterred or how they came into the
possession of the UMMAA. The Museum's catalog book describes the
ancestral human remains as from a ``field near Mound M, Moundville,
Hale Co, ALA 1HA48'' and ``burial 53.'' The ancestral human remains are
also labeled ``Moundville, Ala. Field near Md M Burial 53.'' The human
remains belong to one adult of indeterminate sex. Based on general
dating for the site, this individual was buried between A.D. 1050 and
1550. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
The human remains have been determined to be Native American based
on accession documentation and archaeological context. A relationship
of shared group identity can be reasonably traced between the Native
American human remains from this site and the Muskogean peoples based
on historical sources.
Determinations Made by the University of Michigan
Officials of the University of Michigan 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 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 Dr. Ben
[[Page 25422]]
Secunda, NAGPRA Project Manager, University of Michigan, Office of
Research, 3003 South State St., First Floor, Wolverine Tower, Ann
Arbor, MI 48109-1274, telephone (734) 615-8936, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5c7d6c0c6d0cbc1c4e5d0c8ccc6cd8bc0c1d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="90f2e3f5f3e5fef4f1d0e5fdf9f3f8bef5f4e5">[email protected]</span></a>, by May 26, 2023. 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 Michigan is responsible for notifying The Tribes
that this notice has been published.
Dated: April 19, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-08813 Filed 4-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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