Notice2025-05810
Notice of Inventory Completion: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Primary source
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Published
April 4, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Temple University 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 90 Issue 64 (Friday, April 4, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 64 (Friday, April 4, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14855-14856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05810]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039837; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Temple University, Philadelphia,
PA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Temple University 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.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after May 5, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Dr. Leslie Reeder-Myers, Temple University, Department of
Anthropology, 1115 Pollett Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122, telephone
(972) 955-8789, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aec2cbddc2c7cb80dccbcbcacbdc83c3d7cbdcddeedacbc3dec2cb80cbcadb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="335f56405f5a561d4156565756411e5e4a5641407347565e435f561d565746">[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 Temple
University, and additional information on the determinations in this
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the
inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Based on the information available, human remains representing, at
least, three individuals have been reasonably identified. The 14
associated funerary objects are 11 lots faunal, one lot ceramics
(missing), one lot lithics (missing), and one lot of bone tools
(missing). Between November 2008 and January 2009, Del Beck, an
avocational archaeologist based in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania removed
human remains representing three individuals and associated funerary
objects from the Nescopeck Mountain Rock Shelter, Luzerne County,
Pennsylvania. On an unknown date, Beck notified Dr. Michael Stewart of
Temple University's Anthropology Department and transferred the human
remains (individuals) and some funerary objects
[[Page 14856]]
to the University. In August 2013, Dr. Stewart obtained a radiocarbon
date for the site, indicating an age of 3040 +/- 30 years (Archaic
period). Beck's site documentation included references to lithic
materials, faunal remains, and ceramics. The whereabouts of lithics,
ceramics, or bone tools mentioned in Beck's site report are unknown.
Based on the available information, a relationship of shared group
identity can be identified reasonably between the geographical location
and the culturally affiliated Indian Tribes. Luzerne County,
Pennsylvania is within the aboriginal and ancestral homeland of the
culturally affiliated Indian Tribes. Temple University has no knowledge
or record of any potentially hazardous substances being used to treat
the human remains or associated funerary objects.
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
Temple University has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of three individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The 14 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 reasonable connection between the human remains
and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the
Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Cayuga Nation; Delaware
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of
Oklahoma; Oneida Indian Nation; Oneida Nation; Onondaga Nation; Saint
Regis Mohawk Tribe; Seneca Nation of Indians; Seneca-Cayuga Nation;
Shawnee Tribe; Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin; Tonawanda Band
of Seneca; and the Tuscarora Nation.
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 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 May 5, 2025. If
competing requests for repatriation are received, Temple University
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. Temple University 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 26, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-05810 Filed 4-3-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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