Notice2025-05229

Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

Primary source

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Published
March 27, 2025

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 58 (Thursday, March 27, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 58 (Thursday, March 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13876-13877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05229]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039776; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

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 American Museum of Natural History 
(AMNH) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined 
that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or 
after April 28, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central 
Park West, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 769-5837, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7917140c0b091100391814171157160b1e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="94faf9e1e6e4fcedd4f5f9fafcbafbe6f3">[email&#160;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 
American Museum of Natural History, and additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in its inventory or related records. The

[[Page 13877]]

National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this 
notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Human remains representing, at least, 27, individuals have been 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1875, human remains representing a minimum of five individuals 
were removed from Avila Landing, San Luis Obispo County, California by 
James Terry. The AMNH purchased the remains from Terry in 1891 and 
accessioned them that same year. No associated funerary objects were 
present.
    Prior to 1891, human remains representing a minimum of five 
individuals were removed from Point Mugu, Ventura County, California, 
by Stephen Bowers, who later sold them to James Terry. The AMNH 
purchased the remains from Terry in 1891 and accessioned them that same 
year. No associated funerary objects were present.
    On February 12, 1880, human remains representing a minimum of two 
individuals were removed from Santa Barbara County, California, by 
Stephen Bowers, who later sold them to James Terry. The AMNH purchased 
the remains from Terry in 1891 and accessioned them that same year. No 
associated funerary objects were present.
    In April of 1916, human remains representing a minimum of 14 
individuals were removed from El Capit[aacute]n Beach, Santa Barbara 
County, California, by E.C. Tripp. These remains were purchased by R.G. 
Hazard, who donated them to the American Museum of Natural History in 
1917. The AMNH accessioned these remains that same year. No associated 
funerary objects were present.
    Between 1936-1937, human remains representing a minimum of one 
individual were removed from a location 2 miles south of Lompoc, 
California. This site is likely Hondo Beach Village. The remains were 
gifted to the American Museum of Natural History by Richard L. Casanova 
in 1937, and they were accessioned that same year. Casanova described 
associated funerary objects in his letters to the Museum, however they 
were not accessioned by the Museum, and their current whereabouts are 
unknown.
    Based on available information and tribal consultation, these 
remains are affiliated with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission 
Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California. The following types 
of information were used to determine affiliation: geographical, 
historical, anthropological, linguistic, archaeological, and Native 
American traditional knowledge.
    While it no longer does so, in the past, the Museum applied 
potentially hazardous pesticides to items in the collections. Museum 
records do not list specific objects treated or which of several 
chemicals used were applied to a particular item. Therefore, those 
handling this material should follow the advice of industrial 
hygienists or medical personnel with specialized training in 
occupational health or with potentially hazardous substances.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available 
about the human remains described in this notice.

Determinations

    The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 27 individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described 
in this notice and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of 
the Santa Ynez Reservation, California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains 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 described in this notice to a 
requestor may occur on or after April 28, 2025. If competing requests 
for repatriation are received, the American Museum of Natural History 
must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The American Museum of 
Natural History 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: March 17, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-05229 Filed 3-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on March 27, 2025.

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