84 FR 11824 - Notice of Inventory Completion: The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

The Field Museum has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Field Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 60 (Thursday, March 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11824-11825]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05996]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0027394; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: The Field Museum of Natural 
History, Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Field Museum has completed an inventory of human remains 
and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that 
there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request to the Field Museum. 
If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or 
Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to request 
transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary 
objects should submit a written request with information in support of 
the request to the Field Museum at the address in this notice by April 
29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Helen Robbins, The Field Museum, 1400 S Lakeshore Drive, 
Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 655-7317, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of the Field Museum, 
Chicago, IL. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Mercer County, NJ.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3) and 
43 CFR 10.11(d). The determinations in this notice are the sole 
responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has 
control of the Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the Field 
Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the 
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.

History and Description of the Remains

    Between 1891 and 1892, the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice were excavated by Ernest Volk as part of his 
work for the World's Columbian Exposition. These human remains and 
associated funerary objects were acquired by the Field Museum (then 
named the Field Columbian Museum) in October 1893.
    In the fall of 1891, human remains representing, at minimum, three 
individuals were removed from contexts at Lalor Field in Mercer County, 
NJ. No known individuals were identified. The human remains include a 
sub-adult (possibly female), an adult female, and an adult (possibly 
female). The two associated funerary objects are faunal elements.
    In the fall of 1891, human remains representing, at minimum, 12 
individuals and were removed from contexts at Wright's Field in Mercer 
County, NJ. No known individuals were identified. The human remains 
include two adult females, seven adults of unknown sex, one sub-adult 
of unknown sex, one sub-adult (possibly female), and one adult 
(possibly female). The 39 associated funerary objects are 20 faunal 
elements, 11 pottery sherds, one lithic, and seven non-culturally 
modified objects.
    In 1892, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from Trench 1 at Rowan Farm in Mercer County, NJ. One of 
them is an adult of unknown sex represented by fragmentary and partial 
skeletal remains; the other is represented only by a right femur. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Sometime during 1891 or 1892, human remains representing, at 
minimum, 10 individuals were removed by Volk from unknown sites in the 
Trenton area of Mercer County, NJ. The human remains include one adult 
male, six adults of indeterminate sex, and three juveniles of 
indeterminate sex. No known individuals were identified. The 18 
associated funerary objects are two sherds of pottery, two lithic 
flakes, two lithic objects, one piece of charcoal, one piece of 
modified sandstone, and 10 non-culturally modified objects.

Determinations Made by the Field Museum

    Officials of the Field Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice are Native American based on the archeological contexts 
and the collection history.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 27 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 59 objects described 
in this notice

[[Page 11825]]

are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), a relationship of shared 
group identity cannot be reasonably traced between the Native American 
human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day 
Indian Tribe.
     Treaties, Acts of Congress, or Executive Orders, indicate 
that the land from which the Native American human remains and 
associated funerary objects were removed is the aboriginal land of the 
Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the 
Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.
     Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.11(c)(1), the disposition of the 
human remains and associated funerary objects may be to the Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization 
not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control 
of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Helen 
Robbins, The Field Museum, 1400 S Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, 
telephone (312) 655-7317, email [email protected], by April 29, 
2019. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, 
transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects to the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; 
and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin may proceed.
    The Field Museum is responsible for notifying the Delaware Nation, 
Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 25, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-05996 Filed 3-27-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P