80 FR 52492 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Anthropology Research Collections at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 168 (August 31, 2015)

The Anthropology Research Collections at Texas A&M University has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a written request to the Anthropology Research Collections at Texas A&M University. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52492-52493]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21492]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-18956; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Anthropology Research Collections 
at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Anthropology Research Collections at Texas A&M University 
has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 
Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a 
written request to the Anthropology Research Collections at Texas A&M 
University. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, 
or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to the 
Anthropology Research Collections at Texas A&M University at the 
address in this notice by September 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Dr. David Carlson, NAGPRA Coordinator, Attn: Timothy S. de 
Smet, Interim Curator, Department of Anthropology, TAMU MS 4352, 
College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone (979) 845-5242, email 
[email protected] and [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 under 
the control of the Anthropology Research Collections at Texas A&M 
University, College Station, TX. The human remains were removed from 
Aycock Shelter, Bell County, TX.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). 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. 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 
Anthropology Research Collections at Texas A&M University (ARC-TAMU) 
professional staff in 1995. In 2015, representatives of the Caddo 
Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of 
Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated 
Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma, were invited to 
consult with ARC-TAMU for the purpose of determining the place and 
manner of repatriation. The Caddo Nation of Oklahoma contacted ARC-
TAMU, and the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma, visited the facility; no 
representatives from the other tribes contacted ARC-TAMU in response to 
this invitation.

History and Description of the Remains

    In 1985, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Aycock Shelter/Shelter 14 (41BL28) in Bell County, 
TX, by the Texas A&M University Anthropology Club. The human remains 
from the site were identified as being from Feature 14 a and b (TAMU-
NAGPRA 76). The human remains were determined to be one adult of 
indeterminate sex. Dart points found nearby date the human remains to 
the Early Ceramic period (before A.D. 700). No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Based on the geographic location of the site, ARC-TAMU staff found 
it reasonable to trace a shared identity between the human remains in 
this notice and the following historic groups: Ervipiame, Mayeye, 
Yojuane, Comanche, Kickapoo, Tonkawa, Tunica and Biloxi, Wichita, 
Caddo, Waco, Anadarko, and Kiowa. Archeological and linguistic 
evidence, historical records, and/or traditional beliefs indicate that 
there is a relationship of shared group identity between these historic 
groups and the present-day Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and 
the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), 
Oklahoma.

Determinations Made by the Anthropology Research Collections at Texas 
A&M University

    Officials of the ARC-TAMU have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche 
Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian 
Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & 
Tawakonie), Oklahoma.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a 
written request with information in support of the request to Dr. David 
Carlson, NAGPRA Coordinator, Department of Anthropology, TAMU MS 4352, 
College Station, TX 77843-4352, telephone (979) 845-5242, email 
[email protected], by September 30, 2015. After that date, if no 
additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the 
human remains to the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, 
Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of

[[Page 52493]]

Oklahoma; Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated 
Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma.
    The ARC-TAMU is responsible for notifying the Caddo Nation of 
Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa 
Indian Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Tunica-
Biloxi Indian Tribe; and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, 
Keechi, Waco & Tawakonie), Oklahoma, that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: July 31, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-21492 Filed 8-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P