Notice2024-31297
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK
Primary source
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Published
December 30, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 106574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31297]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039266; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of
Natural History, Norman, OK
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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural
History (SNOMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet
the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a
cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after January 29, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Marc Levine, Associate Curator of Archaeology, Sam Noble
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401
Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, telephone (405) 325-1994,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b9d4d5dccfd0d7dcf9d6cc97dcddcc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a17161f0c13141f3a150f541f1e0f">[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
SNOMNH, and additional information on the determinations in this
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the
summary or related records. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of 731 cultural items from four sites have been requested
for repatriation.
The 138 unassociated funerary objects were removed from the A.W.
Davis site (34Mc6) in McCurtain County, OK. Following extensive
looting, the University of Oklahoma carried out excavations at the site
in June and July of 1955 and transferred the objects to the Museum that
same year. The 138 unassociated funerary objects include one
reconstructed decorated ceramic bowl, three decorated potsherds, 133
undecorated potsherds, and one sample of hematite pigment.
The 452 unassociated funerary objects were removed from the Clement
1 site (34Mc8) in McCurtain County, OK. The site was excavated in 1941
by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the associated material
was transferred to the Museum the same year. The 452 unassociated
funerary objects include one Taylor engraved ceramic bowl, five ceramic
vessels, 44 Hodges engraved potsherds, three decorated potsherds, and
399 undecorated potsherds.
The 115 unassociated funerary objects were removed from the
McDonald 1 site (34Mc11) in McCurtain County, OK. This site was
excavated by the WPA in 1941 and 1942, then resurveyed in 1965 by the
University of Oklahoma. The associated materials were transferred to
the Museum in 1965. The 115 unassociated funerary objects are 17
ceramic vessels, five bowls, four bottles, three jars, three partially
reconstructed vessels, 82 potsherds, and one clay sample.
The 26 unassociated funerary objects were removed from the McDonald
2 site (34Mc12) in McCurtain County, OK. This site was excavated by the
WPA in 1941 and 1942, and the associated material was transferred to
the Museum in 1965. The 26 unassociated funerary objects are two
ceramic bowls, two undecorated ceramic vessels, three partially
reconstructed vessels, one bag of decorated potsherds, 17 sherds, and
one sample of baked clay.
Determinations
The SNOMNH has determined that:
<bullet> The 731 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later, as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional written requests for repatriation of the cultural items
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be
submitted by 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 cultural items in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after January 29, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the SNOMNH 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 SNOMNH is
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and
Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any
other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3004, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Dated: December 19, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-31297 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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