Notice2023-27375
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alaska Museum of the North, Fairbanks, AK
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
December 13, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Alaska Museum of the North 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 the Aleutians West Census Area, AK.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86375-86376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27375]
[[Page 86375]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037061; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alaska Museum of
the North, Fairbanks, AK
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 Alaska Museum of the North
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 the Aleutians West Census
Area, AK.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after January 12, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Josh Reuther, University of Alaska Museum of the North, 1962
Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775, telephone (907) 474-6943, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#543e263121203c312614353835273f357a313021"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5cfd7c0d0d1cdc0d7e5c4c9c4d6cec48bc0c1d0">[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
University of Alaska Museum of the North. 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 University of Alaska Museum of the North.
Description
In 1937, nine associated funerary objects were collected by Don
McKay from Unalaska Island in the Aleutian Islands. The exact location
is unknown; the provenience is listed as Dutch Harbor Spit. In 1981,
these funerary objects were deposited at the University of Alaska
Museum of the North. Museum records show that in 1937, the human
remains associated with these funerary objects were given to Ales
Hrdlicka at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC The nine
associated funerary objects are four worked bone objects, one pounding
stone, three stone lamps, and one slate blade.
In 1977, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual
were removed from the Amaknak Bridge Site on Amaknak Island in the
Aleutian Islands. The human remains of this individual were removed
during archeological work conducted at the site by Glenn Bacon and were
deposited at the University of Alaska Museum of the North shortly
thereafter. The human remains consist of a single left half of a
mandible belonging to an adult between 30 and 50 years old and of
unknown sex. No associated funerary objects are present.
Sometime prior to 1982, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from an unknown site on Unalaska Island in the
Aleutian Islands. The human remains of this individual were removed by
an unknown person and were deposited at the University of Alaska Museum
of the North prior to 1982. The human remains consist of a single
cranium frontal bone belonging to a juvenile 4 to 6 years old and of
unknown sex. No associated funerary objects are present.
Sometime prior to 1993, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from Eider Point on Unalaska Island in the
Aleutian Islands. The human remains of this individual were removed by
an unknown person and were deposited at the University of Alaska Museum
of the North prior to 1993. The human remains consist of a single left
femur belonging to an adult female 21 to 35 years old. No associated
funerary objects are present.
Sometime prior to 1993, human remains representing, at minimum, one
individual were removed from Reese Bay on Unalaska Island in the
Eastern Aleutian Islands. The human remains of this individual were
removed by an unknown person and were deposited at the University of
Alaska Museum of the North prior to 1993. The human remains consist of
a single left radius belonging to an adult at least 30 years old and of
unknown sex. No associated funerary objects are present.
Sometime prior to 1993, human remains representing, at minimum, two
individuals were removed from an unknown location on Unalaska Island in
the Eastern Aleutian Islands. The human remains of these individuals
were removed by an unknown person and were deposited at the University
of Alaska Museum of the North prior to 1993. The human remains consist
of a single cranium (in two pieces) belonging to a juvenile 4-6 years
old and of unknown sex, and a single cranial temporal bone belonging to
an adult at least 20 years old and of unknown sex. No associated
funerary objects are present.
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 and oral traditional.
Determinations
Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian
organizations, the University of Alaska Museum of the North has
determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of six individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The nine objects described in this notice are reasonably
believed to have been placed with our 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 Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska.
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 January 12, 2024.
If competing requests for repatriation are received, the University of
Alaska Museum of the North must determine the most appropriate
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
[[Page 86376]]
repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are
considered a single request and not competing requests. The University
of Alaska Museum of the North is responsible for sending a copy of this
notice to the Indian Tribe 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: December 6, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-27375 Filed 12-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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