81 FR 8217 - Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, Washington, DC
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 32 (February 18, 2016)
National Park Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 32 (February 18, 2016)
| Page Range | 8217-8218 | |
| FR Document | 2016-03408 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 8217-8218] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-03408] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20161; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, Washington, DC AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Defense, Department of the Navy (DoN) has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the Aleut Corporation, representatives of the Aleut Repatriation Committee, and the Cultural Heritage Director of the Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, Inc., as agents for the Native Village of Atka, AK, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and members of the Native Village of Atka. 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 DoN. 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 DoN at the address in this notice by March 21, 2016. ADDRESSES: Dr. Susan S. Hughes, Archaeologist, Department of the Navy, NAVFAC NW, 1101 Tautog Circle, Silverdale, WA 98315, telephone (360) 396-0083, email susan.s.hughes@navy.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby 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 DoN. The human remains were removed from the island of Attu, AK, in the Aleutian Islands. 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 DoN professional staff in consultation with the Aleut Corporation, the Aleut Repatriation Committee, and the Cultural Heritage Director of the Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, Inc., as agents for the Native Village of Atka, AK. History and Description of the Remains In 1943, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from Attu Island, at the western end of the Aleutian Islands, AK. The human remains, a skull and associated mandible, came into the possession of William J. Madden II, Senior Medical Officer at the U.S. Naval Aerological Station, Attu, where they were used as an aid in the study of human skull anatomy. In a letter dated May 14, 1948, Dr. Madden states that the human remains were recovered by a civilian construction company while engaged in building a Coast Guard Station on Attu. A historic account of the Coast Guard construction of the Western Aleutian island chain (The Coast Guard at War: IV Loran Volume I Section III, Chapter 3) suggests that the skull may have come from an archeological site at Baxter Bay. After the Battle of Attu in the spring of 1943, a U.S.C.G. LORAN Station was [[Page 8218]] built on Attu. A construction party arrived in November of 1943, and began construction of the first LORAN station at Attu on Theodore Point, south of Massacre Bay. A temporary base camp was established at Baxter Cove, 2.5 miles east of the station, the only place where equipment could be offloaded near the site. Tents, a mess hut, and a Loran transmitting equipment storage hut were erected, and a large CAT began construction of the switchback road to the ridge top site. The road became known as Hooligan Highway and was one of the engineering wonders of Attu. An account by Lt. Cmdr. Yates indicates that in the first five hundred feet of road construction at Baxter Cove, the CAT cut through an Aleutian cemetery located under a dummy gun emplacement that the Japanese had abandoned a few months earlier. The construction work turned up ``human skulls and bones of prehistoric animals which had been in turn, buried deep below ivory trinkets and tons of bird and fish bones.'' In 1949, the LORAN Station was moved to Murder Point, closer to Massacre Bay. The skull was transferred into the custody of the Yale University Peabody Museum in 1955 (Catalog No. ANTPA.000227), where it remained until 2014, when it was returned to the Department of the Navy, NAVFAC Northwest, to facilitate its repatriation. The skull is represented by a nearly complete cranium and mandible belonging to a young female, aged 15 to 19 years. The dental wear, eruption and mandibular morphology are consistent with the mandible belonging with the cranium. There is damage to the ethmoid and the nasal conchae, with the inferior nasal conchae completely absent. The vomer is present but disarticulated. The sphenoid and right temporal show some postmortem damage. The zygomatic process of the right temporal is missing, as is the right mastoid; the left mastoid process is damaged but mostly present. The mandible is missing the condyles, the right mandibular angle, and its coronoid process. Most of the molars are present, but the incisors and canines were lost post-mortem. The individual's age is based upon the unerupted third molars, unfused basal synchondrosis, and incomplete closure of the incisive suture of the palate. There is no clear evidence of chronic or acute health issues. The skull does reveal a small healed, depressed fracture located on the right parietal. The color and condition of the human remains suggests superficial interment with subsequent or partial exposure. Metric and nonmetric data support ethnic identification as Native American/Indigenous Alaska with closest affinity to females sampled from Wales, AK (Southeastern mainland; Aronsen and Kirkham 2014). No known individuals are identified. No funerary objects are associated with the human remains. Radiocarbon dates from archeological sites on Attu Island reveal that the island was inhabited between 100 and 2000 years ago (Lefevre et al. 2001). The Department of the Navy has determined that the human remains are affiliated with the Unangax/Aleut people because they have a long history of living on the Aleutian Islands, including the island of Attu. When the 20th century Native Village of Attu at Chichagof Harbor was occupied by the Japanese in 1942, the Native inhabitants were removed to Japan. The village was not re-occupied after the war; its remaining inhabitants settling on Atka Island, the closest settlement to Attu Island (Aleut Repatriation Commission and Cultural Heritage Director, 2002). Determinations Made by the Department of the Navy Officials of the Department of the Navy 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 Members of the Village of Atka, AK. 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. Susan S. Hughes, Department of the Navy NAVFAC NW, 1101 Tautog Circle, Silverdale, WA 98315, telephone (360) 396-0083, email susan.s.hughes@navy.mil, by March 21, 2016. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Native Village of Atka, AK, may proceed. The Department of the Navy is responsible for notifying the Native Village of Atka, AK, through its agents, that this notice has been published. Dated: January 20, 2016. David Tarler, Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2016-03408 Filed 2-17-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312-50-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Notices 8217
History and Description of the Cultural Additional Requestors and Disposition identified in this notice that wish to
Item Lineal descendants or representatives request transfer of control of these
of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian human remains should submit a written
In 2014, one cultural item was request with information in support of
donated to the Mount Holyoke College organization not identified in this notice
that wish to claim this cultural item the request to the DoN at the address in
Art Museum by the children of J. this notice by March 21, 2016.
Donald Detenber, from Westborough, should submit a written request with
information in support of the claim to ADDRESSES: Dr. Susan S. Hughes,
MA. Detenber was a collector and dealer Archaeologist, Department of the Navy,
in Native American objects, and it is Aaron F. Miller, NAGPRA Coordinator,
Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, 50 NAVFAC NW, 1101 Tautog Circle,
unclear when and where he acquired Silverdale, WA 98315, telephone (360)
the object. Detenber was most active in College Street, South Hadley, MA
01075, telephone (413) 538–3394, email 396–0083, email susan.s.hughes@
the 1980s and 1990s and purchased navy.mil.
from various dealers and auction houses afmiller@mtholyoke.edu, by March 21,
across the country. The sacred object/ 2016. After that date, if no additional SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
object of cultural patrimony is a woven claimants have come forward, transfer hereby given in accordance with the
cotton sash. of control of the sacred object and object Native American Graves Protection and
of cultural patrimony to the Hopi Tribe Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C.
This type of textile was used of Arizona may proceed. 3003, of the completion of an inventory
primarily by the bride in the traditional The Mount Holyoke College Art of human remains under the control of
Hopi wedding ceremony and can be Museum is responsible for notifying the the DoN. The human remains were
seen in various photographs from the Hopi Tribe of Arizona that this notice removed from the island of Attu, AK, in
early 20th century. As part of the has been published. the Aleutian Islands.
ceremony, cotton was collected from
Dated: February 3, 2016. This notice is published as part of the
various members of the community and
David Tarler, National Park Service’s administrative
woven by a specific group of relatives.
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25
Another known use of these sashes is
[FR Doc. 2016–03411 Filed 2–17–16; 8:45 am]
U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in
the Powamu Festival, centered on the
this notice are the sole responsibility of
seasonal planting of beans. One aspect BILLING CODE 4312–50–P
the museum, institution, or Federal
of the ceremonies is the imitation of
agency that has control of the Native
Katchinas (ancestral spirits). In some
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR American human remains. The National
cases, men would don the sash to dress
Park Service is not responsible for the
as female Katchina spirits or women in
National Park Service determinations in this notice.
general. One such female Katchina is
Angwusnasomtaka (Crow Mother), who [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–20161; Consultation
is often represented with this type of PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
A detailed assessment of the human
sash. Based on the above definitions and remains was made by the DoN
a general knowledge of these objects Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S.
Department of Defense, Department of professional staff in consultation with
being used in various types of the Aleut Corporation, the Aleut
ceremonies, there is a relationship of the Navy, Washington, DC
Repatriation Committee, and the
shared group identity that can be AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. Cultural Heritage Director of the
reasonably traced between the cultural ACTION: Notice. Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association,
item and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Inc., as agents for the Native Village of
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Atka, AK.
Determinations Made by the Mount
Defense, Department of the Navy (DoN)
Holyoke College Art Museum History and Description of the Remains
has completed an inventory of human
Officials of the Mount Holyoke remains, in consultation with the Aleut In 1943, human remains representing,
College Art Museum have determined Corporation, representatives of the at minimum, one individual were
that: Aleut Repatriation Committee, and the removed from Attu Island, at the
Cultural Heritage Director of the western end of the Aleutian Islands, AK.
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C),
Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, The human remains, a skull and
the one cultural item described above is
Inc., as agents for the Native Village of associated mandible, came into the
a specific ceremonial objects needed by
Atka, AK, and has determined that there possession of William J. Madden II,
traditional Native American religious
is a cultural affiliation between the Senior Medical Officer at the U.S. Naval
leaders for the practice of traditional
human remains and members of the Aerological Station, Attu, where they
Native American religions by their
Native Village of Atka. Lineal were used as an aid in the study of
present-day adherents.
descendants or representatives of any human skull anatomy. In a letter dated
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian May 14, 1948, Dr. Madden states that
the one cultural item described above organization not identified in this notice the human remains were recovered by a
has ongoing historical, traditional, or that wish to request transfer of control civilian construction company while
cultural importance central to the of these human remains should submit engaged in building a Coast Guard
Native American group or culture itself, a written request to the DoN. If no Station on Attu. A historic account of
rather than property owned by an additional requestors come forward,
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
the Coast Guard construction of the
individual. transfer of control of the human remains Western Aleutian island chain (The
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, Coast Guard at War: IV Loran Volume I
is a relationship of shared group or Native Hawaiian organizations stated Section III, Chapter 3) suggests that the
identity that can be reasonably traced in this notice may proceed. skull may have come from an
between the sacred object and object of DATES: Lineal descendants or archeological site at Baxter Bay.
cultural patrimony and the Hopi Tribe representatives of any Indian tribe or After the Battle of Attu in the spring
of Arizona. Native Hawaiian organization not of 1943, a U.S.C.G. LORAN Station was
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![8218 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Notices
built on Attu. A construction party ethnic identification as Native Dated: January 20, 2016.
arrived in November of 1943, and began American/Indigenous Alaska with David Tarler,
construction of the first LORAN station closest affinity to females sampled from Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
at Attu on Theodore Point, south of Wales, AK (Southeastern mainland; [FR Doc. 2016–03408 Filed 2–17–16; 8:45 am]
Massacre Bay. A temporary base camp Aronsen and Kirkham 2014). No known BILLING CODE 4312–50–P
was established at Baxter Cove, 2.5 individuals are identified. No funerary
miles east of the station, the only place objects are associated with the human
where equipment could be offloaded remains. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
near the site. Tents, a mess hut, and a
Loran transmitting equipment storage Radiocarbon dates from archeological National Park Service
hut were erected, and a large CAT began sites on Attu Island reveal that the
island was inhabited between 100 and [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–20127;
construction of the switchback road to PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
the ridge top site. The road became 2000 years ago (Lefevre et al. 2001). The
known as Hooligan Highway and was Department of the Navy has determined Notice of Inventory Completion:
one of the engineering wonders of Attu. that the human remains are affiliated Thomas Burke Memorial Washington
An account by Lt. Cmdr. Yates indicates with the Unangax/Aleut people because State Museum, University of
that in the first five hundred feet of road they have a long history of living on the Washington, Seattle, WA
construction at Baxter Cove, the CAT Aleutian Islands, including the island of
cut through an Aleutian cemetery Attu. When the 20th century Native AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
located under a dummy gun Village of Attu at Chichagof Harbor was ACTION: Notice.
emplacement that the Japanese had occupied by the Japanese in 1942, the
abandoned a few months earlier. The SUMMARY: The Thomas Burke Memorial
Native inhabitants were removed to Washington State Museum (Burke
construction work turned up ‘‘human Japan. The village was not re-occupied
skulls and bones of prehistoric animals Museum) has completed an inventory of
after the war; its remaining inhabitants human remains, in consultation with
which had been in turn, buried deep settling on Atka Island, the closest
below ivory trinkets and tons of bird the appropriate Indian tribes or Native
settlement to Attu Island (Aleut Hawaiian organizations, and has
and fish bones.’’ In 1949, the LORAN
Station was moved to Murder Point, Repatriation Commission and Cultural determined that there is no cultural
closer to Massacre Bay. Heritage Director, 2002). affiliation between the human remains
The skull was transferred into the Determinations Made by the and any present-day Indian tribes or
custody of the Yale University Peabody Department of the Navy Native Hawaiian organizations.
Museum in 1955 (Catalog No. Representatives of any Indian tribe or
ANTPA.000227), where it remained Officials of the Department of the Native Hawaiian organization not
until 2014, when it was returned to the Navy have determined that: identified in this notice that wish to
Department of the Navy, NAVFAC request transfer of control of these
• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the
Northwest, to facilitate its repatriation. human remains should submit a written
The skull is represented by a nearly human remains described in this notice request to the Burke Museum. If no
complete cranium and mandible represent the physical remains of one additional requestors come forward,
belonging to a young female, aged 15 to individual of Native American ancestry. transfer of control of the human remains
19 years. The dental wear, eruption and • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian
mandibular morphology are consistent is a relationship of shared group organizations stated in this notice may
with the mandible belonging with the identity that can be reasonably traced proceed.
cranium. There is damage to the between the Native American human DATES: Representatives of any Indian
ethmoid and the nasal conchae, with the remains and Members of the Village of tribe or Native Hawaiian organization
inferior nasal conchae completely Atka, AK. not identified in this notice that wish to
absent. The vomer is present but request transfer of control of these
disarticulated. The sphenoid and right Additional Requestors and Disposition human remains should submit a written
temporal show some postmortem request with information in support of
damage. The zygomatic process of the Lineal descendants or representatives
of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian the request to the Burke Museum at the
right temporal is missing, as is the right address in this notice by March 21,
mastoid; the left mastoid process is organization not identified in this notice
that wish to request transfer of control 2016.
damaged but mostly present. The
mandible is missing the condyles, the of these human remains should submit ADDRESSES: Peter Lape, Burke Museum,
right mandibular angle, and its coronoid a written request with information in University of Washington, Box 353010,
process. Most of the molars are present, support of the request to Dr. Susan S. Seattle, WA 98195, telephone (206)
but the incisors and canines were lost Hughes, Department of the Navy 685–3849x2, plape@uw.edu.
post-mortem. NAVFAC NW, 1101 Tautog Circle, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
The individual’s age is based upon Silverdale, WA 98315, telephone (360) here given in accordance with the
the unerupted third molars, unfused 396–0083, email susan.s.hughes@ Native American Graves Protection and
basal synchondrosis, and incomplete navy.mil, by March 21, 2016. After that Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C.
closure of the incisive suture of the date, if no additional requestors have 3003, of the completion of an inventory
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
palate. There is no clear evidence of come forward, transfer of control of the of human remains under the control of
chronic or acute health issues. The skull human remains to the Native Village of the Burke Museum, University of
does reveal a small healed, depressed Atka, AK, may proceed. Washington, Seattle, WA. The human
fracture located on the right parietal. remains were possibly removed from
The color and condition of the human The Department of the Navy is the San Juan Islands, San Juan Island
remains suggests superficial interment responsible for notifying the Native County, WA.
with subsequent or partial exposure. Village of Atka, AK, through its agents, This notice is published as part of the
Metric and nonmetric data support that this notice has been published. National Park Service’s administrative
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Document Created: 2016-02-18 07:46:39
Document Modified: 2016-02-18 07:46:39
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| 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 DoN | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 8217 |
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