82 FR 44445 - Notice of Inventory Completion: New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 183 (September 22, 2017)

The New Jersey State 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 a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the New Jersey State Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44445-44448]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20305]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0023908: PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, 
NJ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The New Jersey State 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 a cultural affiliation between the human 
remains and associated funerary objects 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 and associated funerary objects should submit a written request 
to the New Jersey State Museum. If no additional requestors come 
forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects 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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to the New Jersey State Museum at the address in 
this notice by October 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Gregory D. Lattanzi, Bureau of Archaeology & Ethnology, 
New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625, 
telephone (609) 984-9327, 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 New Jersey State 
Museum, Trenton, NJ. The human remains and associated funerary objects 
were removed from multiple sites in New Jersey and one site in 
Pennsylvania.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative

[[Page 44446]]

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 
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 New 
Jersey State 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

Philhower Collection

    In the 1920s and 1930s, human remains representing, at minimum, 78 
individuals were removed from sites in New Jersey and Pennsylvania by 
Charles A. Philhower. Philhower owned a house and a number of acres in 
Sussex County, NJ, and excavated on his property, called ``Ahaloking,'' 
and collected human remains and associated funerary objects from other 
sites around the area. After Mr. Philhower died in 1962, he bequeathed 
his archeological and ethnographic collection to Rutgers University 
Libraries and Special Collections who transferred the collection to the 
New Jersey State Museum on permanent loan. In 2010, Rutgers University 
gifted the entire Philhower Collection to the New Jersey State Museum. 
The Philhower collection includes the following cultural items:
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 35 individuals were removed 
from the Ahaloking site in Sussex County, NJ. No known individuals were 
identified. The 24 associated funerary objects are 4 hair pipes, 10 
disc shell beads, 1 fragment of brick, 1 flower fragment, 2 corn 
kernels, 1 mussel shell, 1 wire cut nail, 1 lot of ceramics, 1 lot of 
lithics, 1 dog burial, and 1 black chert projectile point.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 17 individuals were removed 
from the Bell Farm, Minisink Island, and Munsee Cemetery in Sussex 
County, NJ. No known individuals were identified. The 2 associated 
funerary objects are 1 lot of potsherd (66-MU-4) and 1 lot of deer 
bones (66-M-2). One associated funerary object, a pewter pipe with 2 
hawks attached to the bowl, was found with an adolescent male on the 
Bell Farm.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from a site in Mount Holly, Burlington County, NJ, by Mr. Caldero, who 
gave the human remains to Mr. Philhower. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals were 
removed from a site in Milford, Hunterdon County, NJ. No known 
individuals were identified. The 2 associated funerary objects are 2 
lithics and wood pieces.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, three individuals were 
removed from sites in Monmouth, Morris, and Warren Counties, NJ. No 
known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    Human remains representing, at minimum, 19 individuals were removed 
from the Cabin Ridge site in Cumberland County, NJ. No known 
individuals were identified. The 2 associated funerary objects are 1 
lot of dog bones and turtle shells (66-CR-1A) and 1 lot of turtle 
shells, dog bones, and black walnut shells (66-CR-8A).
    Human remains representing, at minimum, one individual were removed 
from a site in Shohola, Pike County, PA. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.

Indian Site Survey Collection

    In 1940, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from a site in East Point, Cumberland County, NJ, by the 
Indian Site Survey which performed archeological excavations for the 
New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include fragments of two 
skulls, one identified as an adult male. No known individuals were 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    From 1936 to 1937, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from a site in Murray, Burlington County, NJ, 
by the Indian Site Survey which performed archeological excavations for 
the New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include the partial 
skeletons of two adults. No known individuals were identified. The 4 
associated funerary objects are four pottery sherds. An incised smoking 
pipe was listed in catalog records, but has been missing from the 
museum collections since 1984.
    In 1938, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from a site in Rosenkrans Ferry, Sussex County, NJ, by the 
Indian Site Survey which performed archeological excavations for the 
New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include one adult male and 
one adult female. No known individuals were identified. The 4 
associated funerary objects are 2 netsinkers, 1 arrowhead, and 1 lot of 
pottery sherds.
    In 1948, human remains representing, at minimum, nine individuals 
were removed from a site in Guilford Park, Ocean County, NJ, by the 
Indian Site Survey which performed archeological excavations for the 
New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include skulls of two 
adults, three children, and two infants; a mandible of one juvenile, 
and a partial skeleton of one adult. No known individuals were 
identified. The 2 associated funerary objects are 1 triangular 
projectile point and 1 small pottery vessel (whole). A pendant in the 
shape of a fish, two drilled pendants, and one small perforated shark's 
tooth were listed in catalog records, but have been missing from the 
museum collections since 1951.
    In 1940, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a site in Oyster Creek, Ocean County, NJ, by the 
Indian Site Survey which performed archeological excavations for the 
New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include one skull of a young 
adult female. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present. Two celts were listed in catalog records, 
but are missing from the museum collections.
    In 1937, human remains representing, at minimum, seven individuals 
were removed from a site in Lenhardt, Monmouth County, NJ, by the 
Indian Site Survey which performed archeological excavations for the 
New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include male and female 
adult skeletons and one child skeleton. No known individuals were 
identified. The 9 associated funerary objects are 4 white clay trade 
pipes, 1 lot of red trade beads, 1 shell pendant, 1 twisted copper 
wire, 1 copper bracelet fragment, and 1 lot of black and white trade 
beads.
    Sometime between 1936 and 1940, human remains representing, at 
minimum, one individual were removed from the Lillian Hurff farm in 
Burlington County, NJ, by the Indian Site Survey which performed 
archeological excavations for the New Jersey State Museum. The human 
remains include one skull. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    Sometime in the 1930s, human remains representing, at minimum, 2 
individuals were removed from the vicinity of Plainfield in Union 
County, NJ, by George H. Fountain, an amateur archeologist who 
collected along the shores of Green Brook. Mr. Fountain's heirs donated 
the human remains to the

[[Page 44447]]

New Jersey State Museum in 1940, and the human remains were added to 
the Indian Site Survey collection. The human remains include a skull 
and fragmentary skeleton of one female juvenile and one child's 
mandible and humerus. No known individuals were identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1941, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from a site in Red Bank, along McClees Brook, in Monmouth 
County, NJ, by William Lufburrow, Jr., an amateur archeologist. Mr. 
Lufburrow, Jr., donated the human remains to the New Jersey State 
Museum in 1941, and the human remains were added to the Indian Site 
Survey collection. The human remains include two skeletons of adult 
females uncovered in a double burial and other fragmented remains. No 
known individuals were identified. The 1 associated funerary object is 
a stone effigy gorget.
    Sometime prior to 1929, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from a site in Minisink, Sussex County, NJ, by 
Paul S. Tooker, an amateur archeologist. In 1929, Mr. Tooker loaned the 
human remains to the New Jersey State Museum, and in 1946, his widow 
donated them to the New Jersey State Museum where the human remains 
were added to the Indian Site Survey collection. The human remains 
include one skull, probably male. No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1940, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a site in Island Heights, Ocean County, NJ, by George 
H. Matthews, an amateur archeologist. Mr. Matthews donated the human 
remains to the New Jersey State Museum in 1949, and they were added to 
the Indian Site Survey collection. The human remains include one 
partial set of remains of an adult. No known individual was identified. 
No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1935, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a site in Waretown, Ocean County, NJ, by N.A. Hansen. 
Mr. Hansen donated the human remains to the New Jersey State Museum in 
1951, and they were added to the Indian Site Survey collection. The 
human remains include one complete skeleton. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In the 1930s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Burton Scott property (site 28-OC-112) 
in Jackson Mills, Ocean County, NJ, by the New Jersey State Museum 
during the Indian Site Survey. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    From 1912 to 1913, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from a site in Emmans Grove near Swartswood 
Lake in Stillwater Township, Sussex County, NJ, by Max Schrabisch of 
the New Jersey Geologic Survey. The human remains were added to the 
Indian Site Survey collection and include a cranial fragment, a 
subadult mandible, and subadult mandible fragments. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In June of 1954, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from a site in Indian Mills, Burlington County, 
NJ, by workmen digging a trench. The human remains were taken to the 
State Police Laboratory in Trenton, NJ, and then transferred to the New 
Jersey State Museum. The human remains were added to the Indian Site 
Survey collection and include an incomplete skull of an adult male. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1940, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a site in Waldwick, Bergen County, NJ, by Carl 
Schondorf, an amateur archeologist. Mr. Schondorf donated the human 
remains to the New Jersey State Museum, and they were added to the 
Indian Site Survey collection. The human remains include the complete 
skeleton of an adult male, over 55 years old. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1936, human remains representing, at minimum, two individuals 
were removed from the Koens-Crispin site in Burlington County, NJ, by 
the Indian Site Survey which performed archeological excavations for 
the New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include the fragmentary 
remains of at least two individuals found in a pit. No known 
individuals were identified. The 3 associated funerary objects are 
argillite stone projectile points/spearheads.

Other Collections

    In 1956, human remains representing, at minimum, 21 individuals 
were removed from the Steppel site in Morris County, NJ, by a field 
crew from the New Jersey State Museum. The human remains include the 
skulls and postcranial remains of two individuals found in one pit, 
fragmentary remains of multiple individuals found in other pits, and 
one separate flexed burial. No known individuals were identified. The 
44 associated funerary objects are 1 worked flint, 1 lot of two flakes, 
1 quartz crystal, 1 potsherd, 1 scraper, 1 celt, 1 winged pendant, 1 
projectile point, 1 lot of two chert flakes, 1 lot of three potshers, 1 
lot of 17 potsherds, 1 ceramic pipe, 1 implement fragment, 1 projectile 
point, 2 drill fragments, 1 implement fragment, 1 flake tool, 1 lot of 
four flakes, 1 lot of 51 potshers, 1 lot of eight potsherds, 1 lot of 
eight potsherds, 1 lot of six potsherds, 1 potsherd, 1 lot of two 
potsherds, 1 potsherd, 1 jasper implement fragment, 1 jasper flake 
implement, 1 reject flint, 1 lot of two flake cherts, 1 lot of 11 
potsherds, 1 lot of six potsherds, 1 lot of two postsherds, 1 potsherd, 
1 drill chert, 1 lot of three potsherds, 1 lot of seven potsherds, 1 
lot of 25 potsherds, 1 flake tool chert, 1 bear canine tooth, 1 deer 
antler tip bone implement, 1 lot of human teeth, 1 lot of animal teeth, 
and 1 lot of human bone fragments. A triangular implement chert was 
listed in the catalog records, but is missing from the museum 
collections.
    In the 1950s, human remains representing, at minimum, four 
individuals were removed from the Grantberry site in Pemberton, 
Burlington County, NJ, by a farmer who later donated them to the New 
Jersey State Museum. The human remains include the partial skeleton of 
two individuals and fragmentary remains of other individuals. No known 
individuals were identified. The 12 associated funerary objects are 11 
lithic flakes and 1 clay pipe in four fragments.
    Sometime prior to 1977, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from a landfill site in Hamilton Township, 
Mercer County, NJ, by Craig J. Rodrany, who donated them to the New 
Jersey State Museum in the same year. The human remains include 
fragments of a child. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1990, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a site in Cumberland County, NJ, by an amateur 
archeologist and loaned to the New Jersey State Museum. The human 
remains include a right mesial cuneiform bone. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1938, human remains representing, at minimum, 10 individuals 
were removed from a site in Cumberland County, NJ, by a farmer during 
spring plowing. The human remains were taken to the Cumberland County 
Coroner and later donated to the New Jersey State Museum. The human 
remains include fragmentary remains.

[[Page 44448]]

No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    In 1940, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from the Medwin Knoll site, Sussex County, NJ, by W.B. 
Wilson, an amateur archeologist, who donated them to the New Jersey 
State Museum. The human remains include a fragmentary skull and 
infracranial remains. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1980, human remains representing, at minimum, seven individuals 
were removed from a site in Gloucester City, Camden County, NJ, by a 
salvage crew during the construction of a building. The human remains 
were transferred to the New Jersey State Museum in 1980. The human 
remains include the fragmentary remains of at least seven individuals. 
No known individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects 
are present.
    In the 1980s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site 28-Mi-72, in Monroe Township, 
Middlesex County, NJ, by a school group who discovered them eroding out 
of a bank. The human remains include skull fragments, limb fragments, 
and six teeth. No known individual was identified. The 27 associated 
funerary objects are 4 pieces of fire cracked rock, 22 flakes, and 1 
piece of glass.
    In 1995, State Archaeologist Dr. Lorraine Williams identified all 
of the human remains listed in this notice as dating from the Woodland 
Period to the Contact Period, a time during which Delaware-speaking 
groups occupied this area of New Jersey. Consultation with the Western 
Delaware Nation, the Stockbridge Munsee, and the Delaware Tribe of 
Indians occurred in 1995, and all representatives agreed that the 
locations from which these human remains were removed was traditionally 
occupied by the Delaware until progressive removals westward began in 
the early 1700s. It was noted during consultation that the presence of 
the Shawnee in the northern portion of the Delaware River Valley in the 
late 17th and early 18th centuries has been historically documented. 
Based on the analysis of the human remains, site information, and 
consultation, the New Jersey State Museum has determined a cultural 
affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects 
and the Delaware (Lenape) people.

Determinations Made by the New Jersey State Museum

    Officials of the New Jersey State Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 161 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 137 objects 
described in this notice 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), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and the Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.

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 and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dr. Gregory D. Lattanzi, Bureau of 
Archaeology & Ethnology, New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State 
Street, Trenton, NJ 08625, telephone (609) 984-9327, email 
[email protected], by October 23, 2017. 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 New Jersey State 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: July 28, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-20305 Filed 9-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P