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 Superintendent, CACO, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records.

Abstract of Information Available

Human remains representing, at least, one individual has been identified in a collection that originated from an archaeological excavation conducted in Barnstable County, MA in 1969-1970. The remains were housed at Plimoth Patuxet Museums (previously known as Plimoth Plantation Museums) before being transferred to CACO in 1982. The 337 associated funerary objects were identified during an amateur archaeological excavation in Barnstable County, MA in 1960. The 337 associated funerary objects consist of stemmed points, notched points, drills, bifaces, scrapers, axes, adzes, pestles, and a piece of worked antler. The site was interpreted as a cremation burial and the collection was gifted to CACO by the property owners in 1966.

There is no record or documentation of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of the human remains or associated funerary objects.

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

CACO has determined that:

• The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
• The 337 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 Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

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 September 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, CACO 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. CACO 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 54753