Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 221 (Tuesday, November 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63945-63946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30681]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Inventory Completion for Native American Human Remains 
and Associated Funerary Objects in the Possession of the Oregon State 
Museum of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given in accordance with provisions of the Native 
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.9, 
of the completion of an inventory of human remains and associated 
funerary objects in the possession of the Oregon State Museum of 
Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by Oregon State 
Museum of Anthropology (OSMA) professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
    In 1957 or earlier, human remains representing two individuals were 
removed from the area of Upper Birch Creek or Pierson Creek in Umatilla 
County, OR and donated to OSMA by a donor whose name is withheld at the 
request of OSMA. No known individuals were identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    In 1972, human remains representing five individuals were recovered 
from an eroding area of the west bank of the Snake River at Farewell 
Bend, Malheur County by officers from the Malheur County Sheriff's 
Office and transferred to the OSMA. No known individuals were 
identified. The one associated funerary object is a basalt flake.
    Based on skeletal morphology and archeological context, the 
individuals from the two sites above have been identified as Native 
American. Historical documents, ethnographic sources, and oral history 
indicate that Cayuse people have occupied this north-eastern area of 
Oregon surrounding these two sites since precontact times. The Cayuse 
are one of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
    In 1965, human remains representing two individuals were recovered 
from site 35UM35, within the town of Umatilla, OR during legally 
authorized excavations conducted by University of Oregon archeologists. 
No known individuals were identified. The approximately five associated 
funerary objects include one pounder, a piece of quartzite, bones of a 
gray fox, fragments of mussel shell, and unworked flakes.

[[Page 63946]]

    In 1985, human remains representing one individual were recovered 
along the Pendleton-John Day Highway on the north bank of Granite 
Creek, Umatilla County, OR by an Oregon Department of Transportation 
construction crew. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    Based on skeletal morphology and archeological context, the 
individuals from the two sites above have been identified as Native 
American. Historical documents, ethnographic sources, and oral history 
indicate that Umatilla people have occupied this north-eastern area of 
Oregon surrounding these two sites since precontact times. The Umatilla 
are one of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Oregon 
State Museum of Anthropology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 
10.2 (d)(1), the human remains listed above represent the physical 
remains of ten individuals of Native American ancestry. Officials of 
the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology have also determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2), the three objects listed above 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. Lastly, officials of the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology 
have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced 
between these Native American human remains and associated funerary 
objects and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Confederated Tribes 
of the Umatilla Reservation. Representatives of any other Indian tribe 
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these human 
remains and associated funerary objects should contact C. Melvin 
Aikens, Oregon State Museum of Anthropology, 1224 University of Oregon, 
Eugene, OR 97403-1224; telephone: (541) 346-5115, before December 17, 
1998. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation may begin after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: November 4, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-30681 Filed 11-16-98; 8:45 am]
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