Notice2023-09766
Notice of Inventory Completion: Maine State Museum, Augusta, ME
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
May 9, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Maine State Museum has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any Indian Tribe. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Penobscot, Washington, Hancock, and Knox Counties, ME.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29939-29941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-09766]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035804; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Maine State Museum, Augusta, ME
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Maine State Museum has completed an
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has
determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human
remains and associated funerary objects and any Indian Tribe. The human
remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Penobscot,
Washington, Hancock, and Knox Counties, ME.
DATES: Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects
in this notice may occur on or after June 8, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Paula T. Work, Curator of Systematic Collections, Maine
State Museum, 83 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333-0083, telephone (207) 287-6604,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b7c7d6c2dbd699c0d8c5dcf7dad6ded9d299d0d8c1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="027263776e632c756d7069426f636b6c672c656d74">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA.
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
Maine State Museum. The National Park Service is not responsible for
the determinations in this notice. Additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in the inventory or related records held by the Maine
State Museum.
Description
In 1926, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from Eddington Bend, ME74.8, in Penobscot County, ME.
These human remains were transferred to the Maine State Museum in 1982
by the Brick Store Museum (from its W.B. Smith collection). Red Ocher
grave H contained heavily burned skull and long-bone fragments
belonging to an individual of indeterminate age and sex. Based on a
radiocarbon date of 3,590 <plus-minus>60 BP (on charcoal), these human
remains date to the Archaic Period (Susquehanna Tradition). No known
individual was identified. The five associated funerary objects are two
pieces of ocher, one fire kit, and two mammal bones.
In 1926, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from Eddington Bend, ME74.8, in Penobscot County, ME.
These human remains were transferred to the Maine State Museum in 1982
by the Brick Store Museum (from its W.B. Smith collection). Red Ocher
grave J contained heavily burned tooth enamel belonging to an
individual of indeterminate age and sex. Based on burial style and
associated artifacts, these human remains date to the Archaic Period
(4,500-3,800 BP). No known individual was identified. The three
associated funerary objects are a piece of ocher, a celt, and a worked
stone.
In 1926, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from Eddington Bend, ME74.8,
[[Page 29940]]
in Penobscot County, ME. These human remains were transferred to the
Maine State Museum in 1982 by the Brick Store Museum (from its W.B.
Smith collection). Red Ocher grave K contained heavily burned tooth
enamel belonging to an individual of indeterminate age and sex. Based
on burial style and associated artifacts, these human remains date to
the Archaic Period (4,500-3,800 BP). No known individual was
identified. The three associated funerary objects are a piece of ocher,
a piece of limonite, and a soil sample.
In 1926, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from Eddington Bend, ME74.8, in Penobscot County, ME.
These human remains were transferred to the Maine State Museum in 1982
by the Brick Store Museum (from its W.B. Smith collection). Cremation
pit 8 contained heavily burned skull and long-bone fragments belonging
to an individual of indeterminate age and sex. Based on burial style
and associated artifacts, these human remains date to the Archaic
Period (3,800-3,500). No known individual was identified. The eight
associated funerary objects are six celts, one scraper, and one animal
bone.
In 1926, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from Eddington Bend, ME74.8, in Penobscot County, ME.
These human remains were transferred to the Maine State Museum in 1982
by the Brick Store Museum (from its W.B. Smith collection). Three
unprovenienced cremation samples include heavily burned skull,
mandible, metacarpal or metatarsal, and long-bone fragments belonging
to an individual of indeterminate age and sex. Age and sex are
indeterminate. These human remains most likely date to the Archaic
Period (4,500-3,500 BP). No known individual was identified. The two
associated funerary objects are animal bone fragments.
On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from Canal Bank, Grand Lake Stream Plantation,
ME94.27, in Washington County, ME. These human remains were transferred
to the Maine State Museum on December 8, 1982, by the Maine Historic
Preservation Commission (from the Ed Brown archeological collection,
which had been purchased at auction). The human remains--a calcined
cranial fragment--belong to a juvenile of indeterminate sex. Based on
artifacts found at the site, these human remains most likely date to
the Archaic Period (4,500-3,500 BP). No known individual was
identified. The one associated funerary object is a piece of ocher.
On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from Boynton Point, Lamoine, ME43.4, in Hancock
County, ME. These human remains were transferred to the Maine State
Museum by Connecticut Historical Society on unknown date. The human
remains--a humerus fragment--belong to an individual of indeterminate
age and sex. Based on artifacts found at the site, these human remains
date to the Ceramic Period. No known individual was identified. No
associated funerary objects are present.
On an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from Harbor Island, Brooklin, ME30.3, in
Hancock County, ME. These human remains were donated to the Maine State
Museum in 1979 by Benjamin Smith. The human remains--one molar, one
premolar, and one incisor or canine--belong to an adult of
indeterminate sex. These human remains most likely date to the Ceramic
Period. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
In 1972, human remains representing, at minimum, 11 individuals
were removed from the Crocker site, North Haven, ME29.81, Features 3 &
4, in Knox County, ME. These human remains were recovered during an
excavation by the Maine State Museum. Feature 4 pit contained the human
remains of the following 10 individuals: one infant 8-16 months old;
one juvenile 2-4 years old; two juveniles 4-8 years old; one juvenile
7-11 years old; one sub-adult 16-20 years old; two adults 20-24 years
old; one adult 35-40 years old and probably male; and one adult 35-40
years old and probably female. Feature 3 pit contained the human
remains of one individual 40-55 years old and of indeterminate sex.
Based on a radiocarbon date from feature 4, these human remains date to
the Ceramic Period (1,165 <plus-minus>125 BP). No known individuals
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
In 1978, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from Drinking Place Brook, Vinalhaven, ME29.151, in Knox
County, ME. These human remains were recovered during an excavation by
the Maine State Museum. The heavily fragmented and charred skeleton
belongs to a female 18-35 years old. Based on a radiocarbon date from a
bone, these human remains date to Late Ceramic Period (840 <plus-
minus>110). No known individual was identified. No associated funerary
objects are present.
Aboriginal Land
The human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice
were removed from known geographic locations. These locations are the
aboriginal lands of one or more Indian Tribes. The following
information was used to identify the aboriginal land: Acts of Congress
that include the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 (Pub. L.
96-420, 94 Stat. 1785), the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
Supplementary Claims Settlement Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-566, 100 Stat.
3184), and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs Settlement Act of 1991 (Pub.
L. 102-171, 105 Stat. 1143); the legislative history of the above Acts
of Congress; and other relevant, authoritative governmental
determinations concerning the aboriginal occupation of lands by the
Mi'kmaq Nation (Previously listed as Aroostook Band of Micmacs),
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the
Penobscot Nation claim as their aboriginal territory.
Determinations
Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes, the Maine State Museum
has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 20 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 22 objects 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> No relationship of shared group identity can be reasonably
traced between the human remains and associated funerary objects and
any Indian Tribe.
<bullet> The human remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice were removed from the aboriginal land of the
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Mi'kmaq Nation (Previously listed as
Aroostook Band of Micmacs); Passamaquoddy Tribe; and the Penobscot
Nation.
Requests for Disposition
Written requests for disposition of the human remains and
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the
Responsible Official identified in ADDRESSES. Requests for disposition
may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes identified in this notice.
2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization
[[Page 29941]]
not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the
evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally
affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization, or who shows
that the requestor is an aboriginal land Indian Tribe.
Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after June 8,
2023. If competing requests for disposition are received, the Maine
State Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to
disposition. Requests for joint disposition of the human remains and
associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not
competing requests. The Maine State Museum is responsible for sending a
copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes identified in this notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9 and
10.11.
Dated: May 3, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-09766 Filed 5-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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