SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the PHMC, State Museum of Pennsylvania, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

Human remains representing, at least, eight individuals have been identified. The eight lots of associated funerary objects include botanical remains, charcoal, chipped stone, groundstone, historic trade items, modified and unmodified faunal material, natural stones, personal adornments, pipes, pottery, and soil. These individuals and belongings were removed from the Overpeck site (36Bu5) in Bucks County, PA by The State Museum of Pennsylvania; Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Forks of the Delaware Chapter 14; Sam Landis; and Bryn Mawr College between 1947 and 1988. Received by PHMC from 1947-2022 and housed under accessions including 82.1, 83.88, 90.6, 90.250, 2005.63, 2007.18, 2023.44, and 2025.51. An unknown number of items may be missing from this holding and PHMC staff continue to look for them.

Human Remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. The one lot of associated funerary objects include chipped stone, groundstone, pottery, and modified and unmodified faunal remains. In 1981, remains and funerary belongings were removed from the Eel Skin Rock Shelter site (36Bu59) in Bucks County, PA by Sam Landis. Received by PHMC in 1982 and housed under accession 82.1.

Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. The one lot of associated funerary objects include chipped stone and faunal remains. These items were removed from the Hartpence site (36Bu191) in Bucks County, PA by Dr. Michael Stewart in 1987. Received by PHMC in 1987 and housed under accession 87.76.

Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been identified. No associated funerary objects have been identified, however an unknown number of items may be missing from this holding, and PHMC staff continue to look for them. In the late 19th century, remains and funerary belongings were removed from Durham Cave (36Bu196) in Bucks County, PA by Henry C. Mercer. Received by PHMC from University of Pennsylvania in 1969 and housed under accession 96.49.

Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. The one lot of associated funerary objects include pottery and faunal material. These were removed from the Hanley site (unknown site number) in Luzerne County, PA by an unknown individual prior to 1993 and transferred to PHMC by the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society in 1993. This individual has been housed under catalog 36Lu/4 and accession 93.66. An unknown number of items may be missing and PHMC staff continue to look for them.

Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. ( printed page 24292) The two lots of associated funerary objects include pottery, pipes, personal adornments, groundstone, faunal material, chipped stone, charcoal, and an effigy. These were removed from the Schacht site (36Lu1) in Luzerne County, PA by The State Museum of Pennsylvania and Jeanne Sweeney between 1962 and an unknown date prior to1989. Received by PHMC from 1962-1989 and housed under accessions including 62.82 and 89.60. An unknown number of items may be missing from this holding and PHMC staff continue to look for them.

Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified. No associated funerary belongings are present. This individual was removed from 36Lu39 in Luzerne County, PA by an unknown individual during the mid-1990s. Received by PHMC in the mid to late 1990s and housed under accession 2025.67.

Human remains representing, at least, three individuals have been identified. No associated funerary objects have been identified. These individuals were removed from an unknown location in either Luzerne County or Pike County, PA by Russel Royer during the mid-20th century. Received by PHMC in 1989 and housed under accession 89.28.

Museum records do not indicate the use of hazardous substances on any of the above listed individuals or items.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The PHMC, State Museum of Pennsylvania has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of at least 18 individuals of Native American ancestry.
• The 13 lots of objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony.
• There is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Cayuga Nation; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Oneida Indian Nation; Oneida Nation; Onondaga Nation; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe; Seneca Nation of Indians; Seneca-Cayuga Nation; Shawnee Tribe; Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin; Tonawanda Band of Seneca; and the Tuscarora Nation.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES . Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:

1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.

2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.

Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after June 4, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the PHMC, State Museum of Pennsylvania must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The PHMC, State Museum of Pennsylvania is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.

Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

91 FR 24291