Notice2024-20869
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA
Primary source
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Published
September 13, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Western Washington University (WWU) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The associated funerary objects were removed from 45-WH-67 in Whatcom County, WA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 178 (Friday, September 13, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 178 (Friday, September 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 74984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20869]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038695; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University,
Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA
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 Western Washington University (WWU) has
completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated
funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in
this notice. The associated funerary objects were removed from 45-WH-67
in Whatcom County, WA.
DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice
may occur on or after October 15, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Judith Pine, Western Washington University, Department
of Anthropology, Arntzen Hall 340, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA
98225, telephone (360) 650-4783, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#62120b0c0708221515174c070617"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ea9a83848f80aa9d9d9fc48f8e9f">[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
WWU, 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
Three associated funerary objects have been newly identified during
a recent repatriation and rehousing project. The three associated
funerary objects consist of one wooden burial box, one lot of carbon 14
samples, and one antler wedge. These items were newly identified in
consultation with Lummi Nation Cultural Specialist, R. Tom. No
hazardous chemicals are known to have been used to treat the associated
funerary objects while in the custody of WWU.
Western Washington State College signed a contract with Arcomm
Construction Company, Inc. of Seattle in April of 1975 to conduct
``salvage'' archaeology during the development of the Birch Bay sewage
treatment facility. The project was led by Jeannette Gaston and Garland
Grabert (WWU). Most of the work consisted of monitoring and salvage
archaeology during construction activities throughout the summer of
1975. A total of twenty-six test cuts were excavated within the
pipeline right-of-way (Gaston and Grabert,1975).
During this work, an intact cedar slab box burial was identified at
site 45-WH-67. Analysis of the box burial was conducted, which included
radiocarbon dating of a sample of the wood burial box (Lundy, 1977).
The ancestral remains were previously repatriated to the Lummi Nation,
however, the burial box, carbon 14 samples, and an antler wedge found
with the box are present in the WWU collections.
The 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:
anthropological information, archaeological information, geographical
information, historical information, and oral tradition.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available
about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.
Determinations
The WWU has determined that:
<bullet> The three 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 associated funerary
objects described in this notice and the Lummi Tribe of the Lummi
Reservation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the 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
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October
15, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the WWU
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 WWU 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: September 5, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-20869 Filed 9-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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