Notice2024-19684
Notice of Inventory Completion: Science Museum of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
Primary source
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Published
September 3, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Science Museum of Minnesota 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71385-71387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19684]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038623; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Science Museum of Minnesota,
Saint Paul, MN
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 Science Museum of Minnesota has
completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects
and has determined that there is a cultural
[[Page 71386]]
affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects
and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after October 3, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Alison Rempel Brown, President and CEO, Science Museum of
Minnesota, 120 W Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55102, telephone (651)
221-9415, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81e0e3f3eef6efc1f2ececafeef3e6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="18797a6a776f76586b757536776a7f">[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
Science Museum of Minnesota, and additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, 19 individuals have been
identified. The 479 associated funerary objects are bone harpoon
points, bone beads, shell gorgets, shell ornaments/pendants, stone
tools, pottery sherds, antler tine, shells, lithic flakes, bark
fragments, and soil and rocks.
The following have been determined to be culturally affiliated with
the Prairie Island Indian Community based upon geographic location and
oral tradition. One human cranium donated in 1949, found at Mendota,
Minnesota (SMM Accession 2011). Two bone fragments and 16 teeth
representing at least one individual from excavation at the Lee Mill
Cave site (21DK0002) in Dakota County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum
of Minnesota in 1953 (SMM Accession 2102). Six artifacts from
excavation of Mound 1 and 2 at the Bremer Mounds site (21DK0005) in
Dakota County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum of Minnesota in 1955
(SMM Accession 2158). Twenty-two cranial fragments and 50+ small bone
fragments representing at least one individual, and 14 artifacts from
excavation of Mound 1 at the Schilling site (21WA0001) in Washington
County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum of Minnesota in 1958 (SMM
Accession 2167). Seven bone fragments and two (2) teeth from excavation
in 1959-1960 (SMM Accession 2354) and two teeth from excavation in 2015
(SMM Accession A2015:4) at the Sheffield site (21WA0001) in Washington
County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum of Minnesota. Four-hundred and
forty-eight artifacts from excavation of Mounds 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 at
the Fort Sweney site (21GD0086) in Goodhue County, Minnesota, by the
Science Museum of Minnesota in 1960-1962 (SMM Accession 2416). Eleven
artifacts from excavation of burials at the Pemton/River Hills site
(21DK0041) in Dakota County, Minnesota, by the Science Museum of
Minnesota in 1968. Thirteen human bone fragments, 2+ likely human bone
fragments, and 110 teeth/tooth fragments representing at least four
individuals from excavation at the Mero site (47PI0002) in Pierce
County, Minnesota, by the Institute for Minnesota Archaeology in 1991-
1992, and transferred to the Science Museum of Minnesota in 2001 (SMM
Accession A2001:11). Twenty-five human bone fragments and eight bone
fragments that are likely human representing at least one individual
from excavation at the Energy Park site (21GD0158) in Goodhue County,
Minnesota, by the Institute for Minnesota Archaeology in 1986-1990, and
transferred to the Science Museum of Minnesota in 2001 (SMM Accession
A2001:13). Four human cranial fragments and 11+ tooth fragments from
representing at least one individual from excavation at the Silvernale
site (21GD0003) in Goodhue County, Minnesota, by archaeologists
affiliated with the Minnesota Archaeological Society, Carlton Summer
Institute, and Hamline University in 1974, 1976, and 1977. The
collection had been held by the Institute for Minnesota Archaeology
until 2001 when it was transferred to the Science Museum of Minnesota
(SMM Accession A2017:1). Five human bone fragments and six tooth
fragments representing at least one individual from excavation at the
Burnside School site (21GD0159) in Goodhue County, Minnesota, by the
Institute for Minnesota Archaeology in 1995, and transferred to the
Science Museum of Minnesota in 2001 (SMM Accession A2018:1). One human
cranial fragment from the Science Museum of Minnesota's educational
collection (not accessioned) from southeastern Minnesota. No additional
information is available.
The following have no provenience information and appear to be
archaeological. The Prairie Island Indian Community ``recognizes that
there is limited or no known provenience for these ancestral remains,
and it is therefore highly unlikely that any clear descendant groups or
relatives may claim them. The Prairie Island Indian Community is
willing to accept these individuals into their family so that they can
be reburied, rather than languishing without relatives in a museum.''--
Letter from Noah White, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, 22-June-
2024. Two human crania donated in 1958 without provenience (SMM
Accession 2283). One human long-bone fragment donated in 1964 (SMM
Accession A64:6). Unknown provenience. No additional information is
available. Two cranial fragments that refit (not accessioned). Unknown
provenience. No additional information is available. Thirty-three human
bones stored together in a tray representing at least two individuals
(not accessioned). Unknown provenience. No additional information is
available. One human cranium and mandible. Unknown provenience. No
additional information is available.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated
funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
The Science Museum of Minnesota has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of 19 individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 479 objects described in this notice are reasonably
believed to have been placed intentionally 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 connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Prairie
Island Indian Community in the State of Minnesota.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the
authorized representative identified in this notice under 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
[[Page 71387]]
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October
3, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the
Science Museum of Minnesota 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. The Science Museum of Minnesota is
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and
Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: August 26, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-19684 Filed 8-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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