83 FR 39123 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 153 (August 8, 2018)

The Binghamton University 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 Binghamton University. 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 83, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39123-39124]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16923]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0025951; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Binghamton University, State 
University of New York, Binghamton, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Binghamton University 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 Binghamton University. 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 Binghamton University at the address in 
this notice by September 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Nina M. Versaggi, Public Archaeology Facility, Binghamton 
University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, telephone (607) 
777-478, 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 Binghamton 
University, Binghamton, NY. The human remains and associated funerary 
objects were removed from the following four sites: Roundtop (SUBi-
365), Village of Endicott, Broome County, NY; Steen Topsoil Removal 
Plant, Town of Owego, Tioga County, NY; Cottage (SUBi-220), Town of 
Owego, Tioga County, NY; and Owego Sewage Plant Site (SUBi-336), Town 
of Owego, Tioga County, NY.
    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 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 
Binghamton University professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Cayuga Nation; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; 
Delaware Tribe of Indians; Oneida Nation (previously listed as the 
Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin); Oneida Indian Nation (previously 
listed as the Oneida Nation of New York); Onondaga Nation; Saint Regis 
Mohawk

[[Page 39124]]

Tribe (previously listed as the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New 
York); Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca Nation 
of New York); Seneca-Cayuga Nation (previously listed as the Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma); Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin; 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously listed as the Tonawanda Band of 
Seneca Indians of New York); and Tuscarora Nation (hereafter referred 
to as ``The Consulted Tribes'').

History and Description of the Remains

    The Roundtop site (SUBi-365): In 1965, a burial containing the 
human remains of two individuals was excavated at the Roundtop site in 
the Village of Endicott, Broome County, NY, by a Binghamton University 
field school. Subsequently, the human remains were transferred to the 
control of the New York State Museum. This site was also excavated by 
amateurs as well as the New York State Museum. Much has been published 
on the site, including data showing it was a multicomponent site dating 
between circa A.D. 1000 and 1600. No known individuals are associated 
with that burial. The human remains and some associated funerary 
objects (AFOs) have been under the control of the New York State Museum 
since their excavation; the remainder of the AFOs are under the control 
of the University. The 197 AFOs under the control of Binghamton 
University are: Six chert decortification flakes, one chert shatter, 
three chert blocks, 14 chert waste flakes, one large chert waste flake, 
three chert blocks, eight chert shatter, six chert decortification 
flakes, 52 chert waste flakes, seven utilized chert flakes, 18 chert 
waste flakes, one chert decortification flake, two chert shatter, one 
possible utilized flake, eight chert shatter, five chert 
decortification flakes, one fire-reddened jasper waste flake, six chert 
chunks, four utilized chert flakes, one retouched chert flake, and 49 
chert waste flakes. Roundtop site is located within the traditional 
territories of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe, Oklahoma; 
and Onondaga Nation of New York.
    Steen Topsoil Removal Plant site: During the early 1980s, human 
remains representing, at minimum, three individuals were removed from a 
back dirt pile at this mining site in the Town of Owego, Tioga County, 
NY. They were dropped off at Binghamton University anonymously. There 
were no associated funerary objects included in the donation. A 
bioarcheologist and archeologist from Binghamton University determined 
that the human remains were Native American. No known individuals are 
associated with that burial. The site is located within the traditional 
territories of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe, Oklahoma; 
and the Onondaga Nation, New York.
    Cottage site (SUBi-220): In 1973, human remains representing two 
individuals were donated to Binghamton University by a local collector 
who removed items from this site located in the Town of Owego, Tioga 
County, NY. There were no associated funerary objects included in the 
donation. A bioarcheologist and archeologist from Binghamton University 
determined that the human remains were Native American. No known 
individuals are associated with that burial. The site is located within 
the traditional territories of the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware 
Tribe, Oklahoma; and the Onondaga Nation, New York.
    Owego Sewage Plant site (SUBi-336): In 1965, human remains 
representing, at minimum, one individual were removed from this site in 
the Town of Owego, Tioga County, NY. A Binghamton University faculty 
member and the Triple Cities Chapter of the New York State 
Archaeological Association conducted salvage excavations when cultural 
material was uncovered. A bioarcheologist and archeologist from 
Binghamton University determined that the human remains were Native 
American. No known individuals are associated with that burial. The 
site is located within the traditional territories of the Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe, Oklahoma; and the Onondaga Nation, 
New York.
    Haudenosaunee oral tradition states that they are affiliated 
culturally, spiritually, biologically, and personally to the ancient 
ancestors located within their traditional aboriginal territories. This 
connection is based upon Haudenosaunee oral history, cultural 
practices, language, and the philosophy of respect for those ancestors 
that have passed. The Haudenosaunee assert this affiliation to all 
Native American ancestors located within their extended aboriginal 
territory based on their cultural and spiritual beliefs as The People 
of the Long House. Therefore, they argue that this evidence supports a 
relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced 
from the Onondaga Nation to the Roundtop site, Steen Topsoil Removal 
site, Cottage site, and Owego Sewage Plant site. Similarly, the 
Delaware Nation and Delaware Tribe recognize that they have a 
territorial connection to, and cultural affiliation with, these sites 
located in Broome and Tioga Counties, NY.

Determinations Made by the Binghamton University

    Officials of the Binghamton University have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of eight individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 197 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 Onondaga Nation.

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 Nina M. Versaggi, Public Archaeology 
Facility, Binghamton University, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902-
6000, telephone (607) 777-478, email [email protected], by 
September 7, 2018. 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 Onondaga Nation may proceed.
    The Binghamton University is responsible for The Consulted Tribes 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 9, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-16923 Filed 8-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P