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 American Museum of Natural History, 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

The 55 associated funerary objects are one paint stone, five projectile points, one flake or scraper, eight other chipped stone objects, two lots of oyster shells, one adze, two stone chips, one lot of helix shells, four lots of sherds, one stone, eight hammerstones, three scrapers, three chips, one celt, two axes, three hammers, two blades, one knife, one lot projectile points and blades, one pestle-like object, one flake, one hammerstone and net sinker, one notched object, and one lot chipped objects and broken points.

Of the 55 items, 53 were collected by archaeologist Mark Raymond Harrington from the vicinity of Croton Point, New York. Locales include Croton Point, Croton Neck, and Croton-on-Hudson vicinity. Harrington conducted excavations in the area between August 15 and September 20, 1899, on behalf of the museum. During these excavations, Harrington intentionally targeted burial mounds and associated earthworks and uncovered at least six burials. The items from these excavations were accessioned by the Museum across three accessions in 1899 and 1900.

The remaining two items were collected by Henry Booth, who surveyed archaeological sites within New York City and surrounding areas. The items' locales are Croton and Croton Point, and they were accessioned by the Museum in 1908.

While it no longer does so, in the past, the Museum applied potentially hazardous pesticides to items in the collections. Museum records do not list specific objects treated or which of several chemicals used were applied to a particular item. Therefore, those handling this material should follow the advice of industrial hygienists or medical personnel with specialized training in occupational health or with potentially hazardous substances.

Cultural Affiliation

Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:

• The 55 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 associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.

Requests for Repatriation

Written requests for repatriation of the 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 associated funerary objects described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after August 21, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the American Museum of Natural History must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The American Museum of Natural History 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 46155