Notice2023-17781
Notice of Inventory Completion: Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA
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
August 18, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Mercyhurst University has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Crawford, Fayette, and Mercer Counties, PA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 159 (Friday, August 18, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56655-56656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17781]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0036383; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Mercyhurst University has completed an
inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human
remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated
funerary objects were removed from Crawford, Fayette, and Mercer
Counties, PA.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after September 18, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Anne Marjenin, Mercyhurst University, 501 E 38th Street,
Erie, PA 16546, telephone (814) 824-2012, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a4cac5c3d4d6c5e4c9c1d6c7ddccd1d6d7d08ac1c0d1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afc1cec8dfddceefc2caddccd6c7dadddcdb81cacbda">[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
Mercyhurst University. 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 Mercyhurst
University.
Description
Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed
from the Conneaut Ossuary in Crawford County, PA. These human remains
(PA-CW-TIN-0001) were removed on an unknown date by an unknown person.
No known individual was identified. The one associated funerary object
is a lot of faunal elements.
Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were
removed from Campbell Farm (36Fa26) in Fayette County, PA. These human
remains (36FA26-TIN-0001; 36FA26-TIN-0002; 36FA26-TIN-0003) were
removed on an unknown date by an unknown person. No known individuals
were identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed
from Custaloga Town (36Me57), located on the 19th century Heydrick Farm
near Carlton, in Mercer County, PA. These human remains (PA-ME-TIN-
0001) were removed from Native American burials by Harry Schoff and
several field assistants in the spring of 1938, during archeological
testing conducted in association with the western Pennsylvania Frontier
Forts and Trails Survey and with supporting funds from the Works
Progress Administration. No known individual was identified. The two
associated funerary objects are one lot of metal (PA-ME-AFO-0001) and
one lot of white and (possibly) black beads (PA-ME-AFO-0002).
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
[[Page 56656]]
trace the relationship: geographical and other authoritative
information.
Determinations
Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian
organizations, Mercyhurst University has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The three 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> There is a relationship of shared group identity that can
be reasonably traced between the human remains and associated funerary
objects described in this notice and the Seneca Nation of Indians;
Seneca-Cayuga Nation; and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the
Responsible Official identified in ADDRESSES. 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 and associated funerary objects
in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 18, 2023.
If competing requests for repatriation are received, Mercyhurst
University must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not
competing requests. Mercyhurst University 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, Sec.
10.10, and Sec. 10.14.
Dated: August 9, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-17781 Filed 8-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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