Notice2023-16487
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Rhode Island, South Kingstown, RI, and Connecticut College, New London, CT
Primary source
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Published
August 3, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Connecticut College (CC) have completed an inventory of human remains and have determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains were removed from New London County, CT.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 148 (Thursday, August 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 148 (Thursday, August 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 51350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16487]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0036308; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Rhode Island, South
Kingstown, RI, and Connecticut College, New London, CT
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 University of Rhode Island (URI) and
Connecticut College (CC) have completed an inventory of human remains
and have determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the
human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in
this notice. The human remains were removed from New London County, CT.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after September 5, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fiona Jones, URI, 232 Chafee Hall,
Kingston, RI 02881, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90f6f9fffef1fad0e5e2f9bef5f4e5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abcdc2c4c5cac1ebded9c285cecfde">[email protected]</span></a>; and Kristine Bovy, URI, 508
Chafee Hall, Kingston, RI 02881, telephone (401) 874-4143, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2d464f425b546d585f4403484958"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f49f969b828db481869dda919081">[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
URI and CC. 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 URI and CC.
Description
Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed
from New London County, CT. In March of 1981, during the construction
of a soccer field on the campus of Connecticut College, New London, CT,
an excavating bulldozer exposed and partly damaged the burial of one
individual interred in a substantial shell midden. Dr. Harold Juli,
then professor of archeology at Connecticut College, conducted a
salvage excavation and recovery of the individual. Dr. Marc Kelley,
professor of biological anthropology at URI, was asked to collaborate
in osteological research on the recovered individual. The human remains
were subsequently transferred to URI. In published reports, this
individual is determined to be of Native American descent based on
dental morphology, as well as the context of the burial. Fragments of
unidentified bone were collected for radiocarbon dating. The results
concluded a time range of A.D. 1620<plus-minus>70. There are no
associated funerary objects present. (A ``broken sandstone blade
fragment'' was noted during excavation, but the object is not in the
possession of URI and there is no record of this object ever being
transferred to the University; nor is the object in the possession of
CC.) URI was not in possession of any relevant documentation, such as
geographic context and excavation information; this information was
supplied by CC in 2022.
Cultural Affiliation
The human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice
are connected to one or more identifiable earlier groups, tribes,
peoples, or cultures. There is a relationship of shared group identity
between the identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures
and one or more Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The
following types of information were used to reasonably trace the
relationship: archeological, geographical, historical, and expert
opinion.
Determinations
Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian
organizations, URI and CC have determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a relationship of shared group identity that can
be reasonably traced between the human remains described in this notice
and the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe and the Mohegan Tribe of
Indians of Connecticut.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this
notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Requests for repatriation may be submitted
by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice.
2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization 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.
Repatriation of the human remains in this notice to a requestor may
occur on or after September 5, 2023. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, URI and CC must determine the most
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and
not competing requests. URI and CC 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, 10.10,
and 10.14.
Dated: July 26, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-16487 Filed 8-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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